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THE  LIBRARY 

of 

VICTORIA  UNIVERSITY 

Toconto 


THE  LOEB  CLASSICAL  LIBRARY 

FOUNDED    BY   JAMES    LOEB,   LL.D. 

EDITED    BY 
+  T.   E.   PAGE,  C.H.,  LITT.D. 

E.  CAPPS,  PH.D.,  LL.D.         W.  H.  D.  ROUSE,  litt.d. 
L.  A.  POST,  M.A.  E.  H.  WARMINGTON,  m.a. 


NONNOS 

DIONYSIACA 

III 


NONNOS 

DIONYSIACA 

WITH  AN  ENGLISH  TRANSLATION  BY 

W.  H.  D.  ROUSE,  Lirr.D. 

MYTHOLOGICAL  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES  BY 
H.  J.  ROSE,  M.A. 

PROFESSOR  OF  ORBEK,    UNIVERSITY   OF  8T.    ANDREWS 

AND  NOTES  ON  TEXT  CRITICISM  BY 

L.  R.  LIND,  Ph.D. 

CRAWFORDSVItlJC,    INb. 

IN  THREE  VOLUMES 

III 

BOOKS  XXXVI— XLVIIl 


CAMBRIDGE,    MASSACHUSETTS 

HARVARD    UNIVERSITY    PRESS 

LONDON 

WILLIAM    HEINEMANN    LTD 

MCMXLII 


PA 

A3 
V.3 


FirH  primtmt  l«MO 
R0l.riml*d  liMi 


FrinUd  in  Onat  HrUaim 


PREFACE 

I  SHOULD  like  to  have  written  an  estimate  of  Nonnos 
as  poet  and  man  of  letters,  but  that  is  hardly  what 
would  be  expected  in  a  translation.  His  Niagara  of 
words  is  apt  to  overwhelm  the  reader,  and  his  faults 
are  easy  to  see ;  but  if  we  stand  in  shelter  behind 
the  falls,  we  can  see  many  real  beauties,  and  we  can 
see  his  really  wonderful  skill  in  managing  his  metre 
long  after  stress  had  displaced  the  old  musical  accent. 
He  has  left  his  mark,  indirectly  at  least,  on  English 
literature  ;  for  one  man  of  genius  was  for  ever  quot- 
ing him,  and  had  him  in  mind  when  he  created  his 
incomparable  and  immortal  drunkard,  Seithenyn  ap 
Seithyn  Saidi.  He  it  was  who  summed  up  in  four 
lines  the  sordid  ambitions  of  all  the  tyrants  of  the 
world,  from  Sennacherib  and  Nebuchadnezzar  to 
Timour  and  Attila  and  Napoleon, 

The  mountain  sheep  are  sweeter. 
But  the  valley  sheep  are  fatter. 
And  so  we  thought  it  meeter 
To  carry  oflF  the  latter. 

W.  H.  D.  Rouse 

HiSTON    Ma  NOB 

Cambridge 
June  1940 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  III 

PAOK 

Preface v 

Summary  of  the  Books  of  the  Poem    .          .  viii 

Text  and  Translation — 

Book  XXXVI 2 

Book  XXXVII 36 

Book  XXXVIII 92 

Book  XXXIX 124 

Book  XL 154 

Additional  Note  to  Book  XL   .                    .  194» 

BookXLI 196 

BookXLII 228 

BookXLIII 268 

BookXLIV 298 

BookXLV 820 

BookXLVI 346 

BookXLVII 372 

BookXLVIII 424 

Index 495 

vii 


OEPIOXH 
TftN  AIONTSIAKnN  IIOIHMATQN 

EnirPA<>Ai 
TON  rnoAEinoMENON  rr  AIONTTIAKQN  nOIHMATON 


'Ev  8c  rpirjKoaraf  Iktw  ftcrd  Av/iaTa 
^OLK^os  ^rjpLahrJL  Kopv<7G€T<u  clSo;  afut|/3cuy 

dvSpoLGLV  adXo<f>6pois  €iTiTvp.^iol  tloiv  ayuivt^, 

*H;(t  TpirjKOGTov  irdXev  oyboov,  aiBoTrt  haXtft 
heiXalov  ^aidovTos  €;(€t9  fiopov  rivioxfjo^. 

*Ev  8c  Tpir^Koarw  ivdno  p.€Td  KVfiara  Acuotrcftf 
ArjpLcxSrjv  <j)€vyovra  nvpi<f>X€y€wv  crroXov  'Ii^^ufi^. 

TcaaapaKOOTOV  €\€l  Seha'Cypitifov  op'j^auov  *\vhuM¥, 
TTWs  ^€  Tvpov  Alowgos  ihvoaTo,  narp&a  Ka5/xov. 

Y[pa>rov  reaaapaKoorov  c;(Ci,  'n66€v  vUi  Wvpffvj^ 
dXXr)v  KvTrpLV  ctiktcv  * Afivfiwirrjv  *A^po8iny. 

TeaaapaKocrrov  v<fn]va  to  Scvrcpoi',  ^;(i  Xiy^utrnf 
BoLKxov  repTTvov  cpwTa  Kal  Ifiepov  twoaxyQiov. 

Ail^eo  TCGGapaKocrrov  crt  rpirov,  dmroBi  fUXma 
"Apca  KvpLaroevra  /cat  d/xTrcAoccraav  'EtoHu. 


SUMMARY  OF  THE  BOOKS  OF  THE  POEM 
Headings  of  the  last  thirteen  Books 

OF   THE    DiONYSIACA 

(36)  In  the  thirty-sixth,  Bacchos,  after  his  surges  of 
madness,  changes  his  shape  and  attacks  Deriades. 

(37)  When  the  thirty-seventh  takes  its  turn,  there 
are  contests  about  the  tomb,  the  men  competing 
for  prizes. 

(38)  When  the  thirty-eighth  takes  its  turn,  you  have 
the  fate  of  unhappy  Phaethon  in  the  chariot, 
with  a  blazing  brand. 

(39)  In  the  thirty-ninth,  you  see  Deriades  after  the 
flood  trying  to  desert  the  host  of  fire-blazing 
Indians. 

(40)  The  fortieth  has  the  Indian  chief  wounded,  and 
how  Dionysos  visited  Tyre,  the  native  place  of 
Cadmos. 

(41)  The  forty-first  tells  how  Aphrodite  bore  Amy- 
mone  a  second  Cypris  to  the  son  of  Myrrha. 

(42)  The  forty-second  web  I  have  woven,  where  I 
celebrate  a  delightful  love  of  Bacchos  and  the 
desire  of  Earthshaker. 

(43)  Look  again  at  the  forty-third,  in  which  I  sing  a 

war  of  the  waters  and  a  battle  of  the  vine. 

ix 


SUMMARY  OF  BOOKS 

TeaarapaKOGTOV  v<t>'qva  to  T€rparov,  ^vi  yvroMroc 
SepKeo  /xatvo/xcVas"  ^at   Fl^i^cos'  oyKov  an€iXijif, 

UefjLTTTov  TiaaapaKocrrov  cVo^ccu,  oimo&i    llcy- 
devs 
ravpov  €7na(f>iyy€i  K€pa€XK€OS  dvrl  Avaiov, 

"FiKTov  T€GaapaKo<rr6v  Kc  nXtov,  ^x^  wwfoti^p 
Ylevdeos  aKpa  Kaprjva  Kal  cuAc a&r cict^i'    Ayavrjr. 

"Kpx^o  TcaoapaKoarov  cV  €/38ofio>',  omro^«   Ilt/H 

Kal  fiopos  *lKaploio  koI  appoxirwv  Wpuihyf), 

^it,€o  7€aaapaKO<rr6v  is  oyboov  alfia  riyama^, 
TlaXkrjvrjv  8c  66k€V€  koI  tnrvaXirjs  tokov  ACpifft, 


SUMMARY  OF  BOOKS 

(44<)  The  forty-fourth  web  I  have  woven,  where  you 
may  see  maddened  women  and  the  heavy  threat 
of  Pentheus. 

(45)  See  also  the  forty-fifth,  where  Pentheus  binds 
the  bull  instead  of  stronghorn  Lyaios. 

(46)  See  also  the  forty-sixth,  where  you  will  find 
the  head  of  Pentheus  and  Agaue  murdering  her 
son. 

(47)  Come  to  the  forty-seventh,  in  which  is  Perseus, 
and  the  death  of  Icarios,  and  Ariadne  in  her 
rich  robes. 

(48)  In  the  forty-eighth,  seek  the  blood  of  the  giants, 
and  look  out  for  Pallene  and  the  son  of  sleeping 
Aura. 


XI 


NONNOS 

DIONYSIACA 


VOL.  Ill 


AIONTSIAKUN  TPIAKOrTON  EKTON 


*Ev  8c  rpL-qKoarut  Iter  (ft  fi€ra  Avfiara 
BaKxos  AT7pta87Ji  Kopvaatnu  tt&oi  a^4ifiot¥, 

*n?  <j>dyi€vos  Qap<jvv€  y€yr)06ra<:  rfyty^s^fft^' 
ArjpLabrjs  8*  ircpwOev  cou?  tKopvoat  /laxTTtic, 
dfjL<l)OT€pr]  8e  tfxiXayyi  d€oi  vatrijpt^  *OAv/Airov 
KCKpifievoL  crre^Xoyro  KvP€pinfjrrjp€^  *E»nfaOt, 
ol  fJLcv  ArjpLaSijog  dprjyoveg,  ol  8c  AuoiOV.  1 

Zeu?  ftei'  dva(  ^aKapwv  vifiiivyo^  wItoBt  K//)r»f 
"Apeos"  €?;(€  ToAai^a  7rapaKAt8d»'*  ovpay6$€y  hi 
€fi7TVpov  uSardet?  7TpoKaXi^€To  K-iKU-o^fo/rw 
'HcAtov,  yAau/ctuTTiy  "Apr)^,  'H^cutrro?  'rS<i<nn|ir 
*Hpi7?  8'  drrt/ccAcu^os'  dpcoriay  'Aprt^f  ^<my 
Aif]TCx)7]v  8*  cVt  87)^11/  ivppani^  rjXvdtv  *Kpfifff, 

Kat  fa^eou  iTo\4p.ov  hiSvpiOKTimo^  c/Socfuy  ^X**^ 
dli<j)OT€poLs  fiaKapeomv.      €7r€aGVfi€vwv  04  tciAoifii^ 
"Aprjs  iirraTTeXedpos  efidpyaro    YpiToytv^lj), 
/cat  Sdpu  Oovpov  LoXXev  dvoirrqrov  8<  Staanj^ 
fjL€(JG7]v  alycSa  Tvifjev,  ddrji^rov  8<  ica^>7)vov 
^Aacre  Fopyetr^?  6<f>Lcob€a  Ayjia  xairT)^, 
riaAAaSo?  ourrjaay  Aaatov  adicoy  o^irrcv^  5^ 
TTejJLTTOjJLevr)  pot^>]8ov  d/ca^TTc'o?  €y;(€Oj  ^X^'H 
7roLr)Tr]v  TrXoKafxlba  vodr)?  i^dpa^c  Mc8oi><T7y9. 
KOVpT)  8*  €yp€KvhoipLOs  inat^aoa  koI  airrq 
2 


BOOK  XXXVI* 

In  the  thirty-sixth,  Bacchos,  after  his  surges  of  mad- 
ness, changes  his  shape  and  attacks  Deriades. 

With  this  speech  he  encouraged  the  glad  leaders  ; 
and  Deriades  on  his  part  put  his  own  soldiers  under 
arms.  The  gods  who  dwell  in  Olympos  ranged  them- 
selves in  two  parties  to  direct  the  warfare  on  both 
sides,  these  supporting  Deriades,  those  Lyaios.  Zeus 
Lord  of  the  Blessed  throned  high  on  Cerne  held  the 
tilting  balance  of  war.  From  heaven  Seabluehair  of 
the  waters  challenged  fiery  Helios,  Ares  challenged 
Brighteyes,  Hephaistos  Hydaspes  ;  highland  Artemis 
stood  facing  Hera  ;  Hermes  rod  in  hand  came  to 
conflict  with  Leto. 

^^  A  double  din  of  divine  battle  resounded  for  the 
two  parties  of  the  Blessed.  As  they  rushed  to  con- 
flict, sevenrood  Ares  joined  battle  with  Tritogeneia 
and  cast  a  valiant  spear  ;  the  goddess  was  untouched, 
but  it  struck  full  on  the  aegis,  and  ran  through  the 
snaky  crop  of  hair  on  the  Gorgon's  head,  which  none 
may  look  upon.  So  it  wounded  only  the  shaggy 
target  of  Pallas,  and  the  sharpened  point  of  the 
whizzing  unbending  spear  scored  the  counterfeit  hair 
of  Medusa's  image.    Then  the  battlestirring  maiden, 

•*  The  battle  of  the  gods  is  imitated  rather  closely  from 
II.  XX.  32-74  ;  xxi.  328-513. 


KONNOS 

avyyovov  €yxo£  a€ip€V  cV  *\p€i  FIoAAar  o^i^rci^^ 

K€ivOy  TO  TT€p  <j>op€ovoa  Xfx^^^*'  rjXixi  XQ^V 

dvdope  iraTpwoio  rcAcaatyoi^to  tcapr^v, 

Koi  haTrihw  yow  Kd^€  nmciy  iT€pi^nKtrot  'Af^* 

aXXd  /xtv  opdcoaaaa  TraXii'BlinjTov  *Avrjyrj 

firjTpl  fl>^rj  p.€Td  Srjpiv  dyovrarov  cairaacv  ^Hpffi, 

"Hpr)  h*  drrtptSaiPcv  6p€aaiv6fiov  Aiowfcww 
ApT€fiL9  (JJS  ovvdeOXo^  opcoTta?,  IBvrtvit  W 

TofoV    COV    KVkXoHJCV    OflO^TJXw    &4    KvSoiftA 

Wprj  Zr)v6s  cXovoa  v€if>o^  7r€'rrvKaafUvo¥  tifUHt 
dppayes  cos"  adnos  cf^*  •  koX  'Aprtfu^  dXXop  im*  aXXt^ 
r)€pLr)s  TTc/xxrouCTa  8t*  dyrvyo^  lov  dXyjfrqv 

€19    OKOTTOV    dxprilOTOV    €-nV    €K€VWO€    ^Op^p/t/lf, 

Kal  v€(l>€Xr)v  dpprjKTOv  oXrjv  C7rv«ra(cv  SumSf 
Kal  ycpdvojv  pupirjXo^  erjv  rvno^  TJi€po^oirtK 
iTrrafievajv  ar€<f)avnrjh6v  dfioiPaiat  Tivi  KlMUf 
Kal   V€<f>€'C  OKIOCVTI   TTCTnyyOTC?  i7<mj'  <M<r70^* 

coTctAd?  8*  dxdpaKTo^  dvaifiova^  cfyc  KoXihrrfffi, 
Kal  Kpavaov  Kov<f>iaa€v  tmrjvtfuov  ptXo^  *H^, 
X^^pl  8c  hivevovaa  TriTrrjyoTa  vutra  voAo^i^ 

ro^ov  5*  dyKi^Aa  /cu/cAa  owtBXaat  fAopfiapof  myfii)* 
ou  8e  pidxr]v  dvcKcnpc  Aid?  Sdfictp'  *A^//udof  5^ 
OTTy^eos"  aKpov  ervipc  pL^aalrarov'  i}  5ir  ruvcioa 
eyx^i-*  77-a;^€VTt  x^/^*  KaT€X€V€  ^ap/rpipr. 
#cat  ot  cTTcyycAdoKTa  Atdj  pLvOi^aro  vvfii^* 

"  "ApTCfjLi,  drjpia  pdXXc  rL  fi€iiouiy  dvTt^pc{c«^; 
Kal  oKOTriXuiv  iniprjOi'  tI  goI  pLoBos;  ovrv^avai  hk 
€vhpop.ihas  <f>opiovaa  Aittc  KvrjpuBa^  *A^ip^* 


^  «  Appropriately  ;    by  a   popular  ancient  theory.   Ilcrm 

("Hpa)  is  the  atmosphere  (di^p). 

4 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  22-50 

motherless  Pallas,  rushed  forwards  in  her  turn  and 
raised  her  birthmate  spear,  the  weapon  as  old  as 
herself,  with  which  at  her  birth  she  leapt  out  of  her 
father's  pregnant  head  born  in  armour.  Huge  Ares 
was  hit,  and  sank  to  the  ground  on  one  knee  ;  but 
Athena  helped  him  up  and  sent  him  back  to  his 
dear  mother  Hera  unwounded,  when  the  duel  was 
done. 

^  Against  Hera  came  highland  Artemis  as  cham- 
pion for  hillranging  Dionysos,  and  rounded  her 
bow  aiming  straight.  Hera  as  ready  for  conflict 
seized  one  of  the  clouds  <*  of  Zeus,  and  compressed  it 
across  her  shoulders  where  she  held  it  as  a  shield 
proof  against  all ;  and  Artemis  shot  arrow  after 
arrow  moving  through  the  airy  vault  in  vain  against 
that  mark,  until  her  quiver  was  empty,  and  the 
cloud  still  unbroken  she  covered  thick  with  arrows  all 
over.  It  was  the  very  image  of  a  flight  of  cranes 
moving  in  the  air  and  circling  one  after  another 
in  the  figure  of  a  wreath :  the  arrows  were  stuck 
in  the  dark  cloud,  but  the  veil  was  untorn  and 
the  wounds  without  blood.  Then  Hera  picked  up  a 
rough  ilhissile  of  the  air,  a  frozen  mass  of  hail,  circled  it 
and  struck  Artemis  with  the  jagged  mass.  The  sharp 
stony  lump  broke  the  curves  of  the  bow.  But  the 
consort  of  Zeus  did  not  stop  the  fight  there,  but 
struck  Artemis  flat  on  the  skin  of  the  breast,  and 
Artemis  smitten  by  the  weapon  of  ice  emptied  her 
quiver  upon  the  ground.  Then  the  wife  of  Zeus 
mocked  at  her  : 

^  "  Go  and  shoot  wild  beasts,  Artemis  !  Why  do 
you  quarrel  with  your  betters  ?  Climb  your  crags — 
what  is  war  to  you  ?  Wear  your  trumpery  shoes 
and  let  Athena  wear  the   greaves.      Stretch  your 


NONNOS 

Kal  AtVa  a€LO  rivaaa^  hoXoirXoKa'  ^po^oMM  yap 

aol  KVV€?  aypwaaovaif  koI  ov  7rr€pO€yr€i  ourrtH' 

ov  OX)  \eovTO<f>6vov  yLeBitrti^  /3cAof  •  dbpay4w¥  y^ 

au)V  KaiMaTCJV  ISpancg  avdXxi&tg  tiai  Aa/uiOi* 

Gcjv  8'  iXd(l>ajv  oAcyiJc  koI  €VK€pdov  aio  ii^pov,    M 

acbv  €Xd<f>cjv  dAcytfc-  Tt  aol  Aioj  via  ytpalptut 

TTopSaXicov  cXaTfjpa  Kal  rjvioxrja  XfoiTwv; 

Tjv  8'  edeXrjg,  €X€  ro^ov,  "Epcj^  ori  Tofo  rrnuWt* 

TTapOcvLKrj  (fyvyoSepLve  fi€yyo<rr6K€ ,  TropBfiAy  *Epunw^ 

K^arov  ix^iv  coi^eAAc?  dooarjTrjpa  Aojfciiyy,  «> 

(Tvv  Yla(l>lT),  avv  "EptoTi-  ov  yap  Kpar^tif  TO«rcTo£o. 

oAAa,  TcAcCTaiydi'oto  Kv^pvrjiriipa  ytviBXr^^, 

€px€o  TTaLhoTOKUJV  cVt  TTaordSa  SrjXvrfpdotVf 

Kal  XoxiOLS  jScAccCTCTii'  6i(TT€VOvaa  yiwducaf 

CLKeXos  €(J(70  Xeovn-i  AextotSo^  iyyvBi  vvfi^tf^,  iS 

dvTt    <f>LXo'JTToX€llOLO    fJLOyOOTOKO^.       dXXa    KOA    otfTrit 

Xrjy€  oao(f>pov€ovaa  aa6<t)povos  catica  ^lirpnrit, 
OTTt  T€(x)v  fjLeXeojv  fjL^deTTcov  rvnov  u^t/iVScur  Zcvf 
napdeviKas  dydpx)vg  yvp.<f>€V€Tai-  ciacri  Ktunjw 
eiKova  arjv  ^oocoaL  yap-OKXanov  'ApicaScc  ^Xu,        70 
KaAAtoToi;?  dya/xoio  ya^ooroAoi',  VfX€TtpTfv  Si 
€p.<l)pova  p,dpTvpov  dpKTov  €Ti  ar€i'dxovai  it€tXuf¥ai 
fi€p,(l)op,evr)v  vodov  cKoj  e/xo/xavc;  ioxtaxfnj^, 
drjXvreprjs  ot€  XiKTpov  ebvaaro  BrjXi/^  ojroin^f. 
dAAd  T€i7v  dvovrjTov  dnoppupaaa  <l>ap€Tfrrfv  78 

*H/3r;9  KoAAtTre  S^piv  dpeiovo^'  tjv  8*  €BfXi^ajf^, 
d)S  Xox^'T]  TToAc/xt^c  TcXeaaiydfuv  KvSfpttrj." 

"EvveTTC,  T€Lpopcinrju  8€  77a/)7jAi;^c»'  'A/>tc/uv  *H/n). 
rrjv  8c  <^d^a>  pLedvovaav  diro  <f>Xolafioio  KOfu^arv 

«  C/.  7Z.  xxi.  483.     Many  other  close  iniiUtiom  viO  be 
6 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  51-79 

cunning  nets.  Dogs,  not  winged  arrows,  hunt  and 
kill  your  beasts.  You  handle  no  weapon  to  kill 
lions  ;  the  sweats  of  your  paltry  labours  are  timid 
hares.  Attend  to  your  stags  and  your  horned 
team,  attend  to  your  stags  :  why  should  you  exalt 
the  son  of  Zeus,  the  driver  of  panthers  and  the 
charioteer  of  lions  ?  Keep  your  bow,  if  you  like,  for 
Eros  also  bends  a  bow.  What  you  ought  to  do,  you 
virgin  marriage-hater,  you  midwife,  is  to  carry  the 
cestus,  love's  ferry,  the  helper  of  childbed,  in  com- 
pany with  Eros  and  the  Paphian  :  for  you  have  power 
over  birth.  Begone  then  to  the  bedchambers  of 
women  in  labour  of  child,  you  the  guide  of  creative 
birth,  and  shoot  women  with  the  arrows  of  child- 
birth ;  be  like  a  lion  **  beside  the  young  wife  in 
labour,  be  midwife  rather  than  warrior.  Nay,  cease 
to  be  chaste  yourself  because  of  your  chaste  girdle, 
since  Zeus  our  Lord  on  High  assumes  your  shape  to 
woo  virgins  unwedded.^  The  Arcadian  woods  still 
tell  of  that  love-stealing  copy  of  you  which  seduced 
unwedded  Callisto  ;  the  mountains  lament  still  your 
bear  who  saw  and  understood,  and  reproached  the 
false  enamoured  image  of  the  Archeress,  when  a 
female  paramour  entered  a  woman's  bed.  Come, 
throw  away  your  useless  quiver,  and  cease  fighting 
with  Hera  who  is  stronger  than  you.  Fight  Cythereia, 
if  you  like,  the  childbed-nurse  against  the  marriage- 
maker." 

''^  So  Hera  spoke,  and  passed  on,  leaving  Artemis 
discomfited  and  drunken  with  fear.     Phoibos  threw 

found  if  the  reader  compares  this  book  with  the  passages  cited 
in  the  note  on  the  title  of  this  book. 

*  He  disguised  himself  as  Artemis  to  approach  Callisto  ; 
she  was  afterwards  changed  into  a  bear  (authors  differ  as  to 
the  reasons). 

7 


NONNOS 

dfi(f>or€pa)  7nj)(yv€  Karrj<t>€i  ^oifio^  ayovrA, 
Kal  fiLV  dyojv  €Grrja€v  €prjfidBo^  Modi  ^Xh^' 
voon^aas"  8'  dKl)(rp'os  o/xAcc  0€<mthi  )(<ipftfi. 

Kal  pvdlov  npo^dxov  nvpotif  npouo^  amiot  iorti, 
(bol^os  €S  VGfJLivrjif  Uoai&ijiov'  ofi^  hi  ^^^^^ 
6rJK€  PcXos  Kal  iwpoov  €KOV^a€  ^tX^tii 
dfjL(f>oT€prf  TraXdfiT)  TrepiSc'fio^,  ^^P^  Kopvotrjj 
oXku)  KVfiaTocvTt,  adXag  koI  r6(a  rpituyjf, 
alxP-V  ^*  cit^ciAocaaa  Koi  vSar6€VT€i  oumi 
avfi-neaov  oAArjAotai*  Kopvaao^Uvoio  hk  ^oifion 
Apcos  €afiapdyr)a€  /xcAo?  naTpioiOf  KlBrfp,  •• 

Ppovratov  KcXdbrjixa'  Bv€XXi^€aaa  &€  aoAniyf 
ovaat,  ^OLpeloiaiv  cVc^ctuttc  novridf  *\\xio' 

TpLTOJV    8*    €VpVy€V€lOS    €^p.^€V    xfiohl    KOX^ 

dvhpo<f)ur)g  dreAcoTO?,  an*  i(vos  €yxXoo^  *X^^' 
NrypctSes  S*  dXdXa^ov  vn^ptcj^a^  Si  OaXiafnK        •• 
GCiOfxcvov  TpioSovTO^  "Apoi/f  pLvtc^oaTo  Nijpn^. 
Ovpavlrjg  be  ^ctAayyo?  xmlprtpov  ^yov  okoCuiv 

yalav  lp,aacrop,€vqv  poBUav  evooixyovi  vaX^iift 
dpfiovl-qv  KOGfioLo  iJ.€TOxXiaa€L€  Tpuxiyrjt  100 

firj  TTorc  KiVTjaa^  x^^^^^  KprjirlBa  /Scpc^pcur 
drjriTrjv  rcXeacuv  ddrj-qrov  xl^ovos  €bpr)V, 
fir)  pvdlojv  ^AcjSa  naUiav  dvapprj^€i€v  IvaiSXatm 
TaprapLCt)  K€vdficovi  ;(€a>v  p.€Tavdaru}v  v6wp, 
vipr€pov  €vp(x)€VTa  KaraKXv^cuv  ttvAcoii^.  108 

T6aG09  dpa  KTVTTos  wpro  dewv  €ptBi  (wt/6tntu¥, 
Kal  x^oviai  CToATTiyyc?  cVc^/jcftov  dfi^ortpov^  hi 
pd^hov  cAa<^/3tJa>v  dvcaeipaac  fi€cAi;(09  *E^^' 

•  To  Nonnos  ApoUo  is  the  Sun,  thouf  h  oriflriiuUljr  thrt*  b 
no  connexion  beb^een  them.     Mere,  then,  Firr  b  ficbtiiw 

Water. 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  80-108 

both  his  arms  about  her  in  pity,  and  brought  her 
out  of  the  turmoil  ;  he  left  her  in  a  lonely  coppice, 
and  returned  unnoticed  to  join  the  battle  of  the 
gods. 

^  And  now  a  fiery  chief  stood  up  to  the  champion 
of  the  deep,  Phoibos,**  to  fight  with  Poseidon.  He 
set  shaft  on  string,  and  also  lifted  a  brand  of  Delphic 
fir  in  each  hand  ^  doubledextrous,  to  use  fire  against 
the  surging  sweep  of  water,  and  arrows  against  the 
trident.  Fiery  lance  and  watery  arrows  crashed 
together  :  while  Phoibos  defended,  his  home  the 
upper  air  rattled  a  thunderclap  for  a  battlesong ; 
the  stormy  trumpet  of  the  sea  brayed  in  the  ears 
of  Phoibos — a  broadbeard  Triton  boomed  with  his 
own  proper  conch,  like  a  man  half-finished,  from  the 
loins  down  a  greeny  fish — the  Nereids  shouted  the 
battlecry — Arabian  Nereus  pushed  up  out  of  the  sea 
and  bellowed,  shaking  his  trident. 

®^  Then  Zeus  of  the  underworld  '^  rumbled  hearing 
the  noise  of  the  heavenly  fray  above  ;  he  feared  that 
the  Earthshaker,  beating  and  lashing  the  solid  ground 
with  the  earthquake-shock  of  his  waves,  might  lever 
out  of  gear  the  whole  universe  with  his  trident,  might 
move  the  foundations  of  the  abysm  below  and  show 
the  forbidden  sight  of  the  earth's  bottom,  might  burst 
all  the  veins  of  the  subterranean  channels  and  pour 
his  water  away  into  the  pit  of  Tartaros,  to  flood  the 
mouldering  gates  of  the  lower  world. 

^^  So  great  was  the  din  of  the  gods  in  conflict, 
and  the  trumpets  of  the  underworld  added  their 
noise.     But  Hermes  lifted  his  rod  as  peacemaker  and 

"  If  this  means  anything,  it  signifies  that  his  bow  and 
arrows  (  =  sunrays)  were  of  fire. 
*  Pluto  in  Hades. 

9 


NONNOS 

rpiGOols  8'  adavaroiAJi  fuav  (wwoaro  ^ounjr* 

"   FvCOTC    AlO?    Kal    KOVp€, 

oi)  ^Uv,  KXtnorofM,  $UXXm€  110 
TTVpGov  la  icat  ro^a,  uv  &€  yAa>xu«  rpioun^, 
fiT)  fiaKOLpcov  TiT^i'69  cVcyycAaauKTi  Ki;&Oi^, 
fiTj  Kpovlrjv  fi€Ta  Sijpiv  aTrctAiJrcipcu'  *0XvfAWO9 
bevrepov  ddavdroiaiv  "Aprj^  €ful>vXu>i  ciiy,  * 

fiT)  fjLoOov  dXXov  iSoi/ii  p.€rd  kXovov  'lairfToib,  lli 

firjSc  /i€Td  Xayprja  Kal  otpiyovov  ntpl  Baxxov 
^Acf a?  yalav  dnaaav  €w  nvpl  ^oio/icvos"  Zcuf 
dcvaou  kXvgg€i,€  to  ScvrcfK)*'  orruya  tcoofAov, 
vSaaiv  ofippi^aas  x^^^^  aldtpa'  /x^^c  vorfow 
rjcpLois  TTcAdycaat  hiA^poxov  dp^ia  XcAT/inyy*  190 

/it)  tjivxpriv  €X€T(xi  ^acScDV  ndXiv  tyLTtvpov  afykfjp. 
npeapvrcpu)  8*  vnocLKc  KvP^pmrfrijpi  BaXdamif, 
TTaTpoKaoLyih^Tw  rayvwv  x^P^^»  ^^'  ytpaipu 
clvaXlrjv  aio  A17A0V  oAoj  p^hiujv  €voai)fim¥' 
liri  G€  XItttj  <t>OLVLKOS  €pws  Kal  fivrjoTi^  cAoui^.  ISO 

ris  TToAtv,  iwoGiyaic,  St/ccunrdAaj  €vBah€  K^Kpo^, 
rls  ttoXlv  "Iva^o^  ciAAo?  €17^  noXiv  laxtv  ^Hfjj, 

OTTl    Kal    ^KtToXXojVI    KOpVGG€(U,    WS    7T€p    *A6^l¥Jf, 

Kal  ixodov  aSXov  ex^is  irporipr^v  /x<rd  <f>vXonw  "Hfnjs; 
Kal  Gv,  Trdrep  /xcyoAoto,  K€paG<f>6p€,  ^tfpia&rjot,      1)0 
'H^atWou  n€<f>vXa^o  GeXas  p.€rd  XafiirdSa  Box'^^ov, 
/lit}  <7€  7rv/)tyAco;(tvt  /cara^Acfctt  K€pavvw." 
*d?  ctTTcov  dveKOi/je  Oecov  €p.<f>vXov  *EnKu. 
Kttt  TOTC  Avacr^ciff  "naXivdyp^rov  dy4>€ir€  x^f^V*' 

•  Sacred  trees  in  I>ekM. 
"  As  he  was  between  Poseidon  and  Athena. 
10 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  109-134 

checked  both  parties,  and  addressed  one  speech  to 
three  of  the  immortals  : 

110  "  Brother  of  Zeus,  and  you  his  son — you,  famous 
Archer,  throw  to  the  winds  your  bow  and  your  brand, 
and  you,  your  pronged  trident :  lest  the  Titans  laugh 
to  see  a  battle  among  the  gods.  Let  there  not  be 
intestine  war  in  heaven  once  again,  after  that  conflict 
with  Cronos  which  threatened  Olympos  :  let  me  not 
see  another  war  after  the  affray  with  lapetos.  Let 
not  Zeus  be  aflgry  again  for  lateborn  Bacchos  as 
for  Zagreus,  and  set  the  whole  earth  ablaze  with  his 
fire  a  second  time,  and  pour  down  showers  of  rain 
through  the  air  to  flood  the  circuit  of  the  eternal 
universe.  I  hope  I  may  not  behold  the  sea  in  the 
sky  and  Selene's  car  soaking  ;  may  Phaethon  never 
again  have  his  fiery  radiance  cooled  ! 

122  "  You  then  yield  to  your  elder,  the  ruler  of  the 
sea  ;  do  this  grace  to  your  father's  brother,  because 
Earthshaker  the  ruler  of  the  brine  honours  your 
seagirt  Delos :  cease  not  to  love  your  palmtree,  to 
remember  your  ohve.<»  And  Earthshaker,  what 
second  Cecrops  will  be  judge  *  here  ?  What  second 
Inachos  '^  has  awarded  her  city  to  Hera  that  you  take 
arms  against  Apollo  as  well  as  Athena,  and  seek  a 
second  quarrel  after  your  quarrel  with  Hera  ? — And 
you,  horned  one,**  father  of  great  Deriades,  beware 
of  the  fire  of  Hephaistos  after  the  torch  of  Bacchos, 
or  he  may  consume  you  with  his  firepronged  thunder- 
bolt." 

133  This  appeal  put  an  end  to  the  gods'  intestine 
strife.     Then  Deriades,  mad  and  furious,  when  he 

'  When  Poseidon  and  Hera  strove  for  possession  of  Argos  ; 
usually  Phoroneus  is  said  to  have  judged  between  them. 
*•  Hydaspes. 

11 


NONNOS 

AT^ptaSry?  j3apu/iT;vi9,  dnrjfiova^  w^  Sc  lidicx^r       ^ 
/cat  fjLodop  dfiT€fi€0VT09  6ni7r€vwv  tiujfvvaov 
cts"  ivoTrrjv  oiorpr^ae  Trc^ujoray  i^yefiov^f • 
/cat  ft;vT7i'  7rpvX€€Gai  koX  tTnrncormi'  dwciA^r 
Pdppapov  eajJLapdyrjac  Papw^dyywv  diro  AOifiAr 

"  'Lrificpov  Tj  Aioyvaov  iyw  TrXoKaiu&oi  ifuSoom,  HO 
rj€  fJLodos  Ba/c;(€toy  durra}a€i  yivo^    Xvhutv, 
VjjieZs  p,€V  SarupotCTtv  dX€(rjT€ipav  dvdytcm 
on^aaTC'  AryptaSry?  he  KopvamaBut  Atoyvatft, 
7)pL€pihojv  hk  7T€TqXa  /ecu  opyava  rrouciXa  Boinrov 
^Acfare,  /cat  /cAtatas*  €pL7Tprjaar€'  McuvaX&af  oi       II* 
S/xcoiSa?  ai5;^€VTt  KOfuaaare  ^rjpuz&rji' 
/cat  TTvpt  ^Tjta  dvpaa  pLOpaivtre'  povKtpdwp  5^ 
I]€tA7yvoav  Sarvpoii'  re  iroXvimepetov  K€^aXim9 
Ai^tov  d/xrj(7ain-€9  oAotTTn^pi  gti^t)^ 
OTCj/raTe  ndvra  fieXaOpa  fiooKpaipoiat  Koprnvoa.        I<0 
/X17  Oac^cov  arpdipcLC  Twpavyda^  ctj  5uatv  tinrovr, 
TTptv  Sarvpou?  /cat  Bci/c;(o»'  oAu/rroTTcSiTai  KOfuaaw 
G<l>iyy6p,€vov t  /cat  orrt/croi'  €^]j  S^Saty/t/ixyi'  cu^^ 
pwyaXdov  ^opcorra  /card  aripvom  \iTijjva, 
dvpaov  drroppiifjavTa'  raxnmXoKdpxov  hk  ywaucw¥    IM 
)(aLT7]v  diJLTTcXoeaaav  ipw  Tc^pa/aorc  SoAo/. 
dapaaXeoL  Sc  yeveade,  /cat  *I>'8^t^i'  /icrd  yt^Mtnr 
vt/cTyv  /cu8tdv€tpav  dctcrarc  A-qpiaoijo^, 
6<j>pd  TLs  ipplyrjGL  /cat  df/tiyoviov  arparo^  dMfhpum 
*Iv8ot?  FT^yevccaatv  di't/CTyroiati'  cpijciv/'  140 

"EweTTe,  /cat  npofidxovs  p.€Tav€vp.€vo^ 

dXXov  tri*  dAAoi 
ijvtdxou?  otarprjacv  dfi^rpopiajv  €X€<}>dvTwv, 
KoX  TTpvXeojv  TTOfjiTrfjas  C7re<rr7)pifev  6p.iXuj 
fiapvap.€VOV9  TwpyrjSov.     ofiolriXa}  bk  kvSoi^ 
OvpGOfiavrjs  Alowgos  iprjfiovofiwv  GTi^a  $Tipa^        166 
12 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  135-165 

saw  the  Bacchants  unharmed,  began  the  battle  again  ; 
when  he  saw  Bacchos  whole  on  the  field  he  goaded 
his  fugitive  captains  to  rally,  and  to  footmen  and 
horsemen  alike  he  roared  his  barbaric  threats  in  a 
loud  voice  : 

140  **  'This  day  either  I  shall  drag  Dionysos  by  the 
hair,  or  his  assault  shall  destroy  the  Indian  nation  ! 
You,  fall  on  the  Satyrs  and  check  them  by  main  force  : 
let  Deriades  confront  Dionysos.  Burn  the  vine  plants 
and  all  the  various  gear  of  Bacchos  and  set  fire  to  their 
camp  ;  bring  the  Mainalids  as  slaves  to  triumphant 
Deriades  ;  consume  with  fire  every  thyrsus  of  the 
enemy  ;  as  for  the  oxhorned  Seilenoi  and  the  crowds 
of  Satyrs,  shear  off  like  a  crop  all  their  heads  with 
devastating  steel,  and  hang  the  oxhorned  skulls  in 
strings  round  all  our  houses.  May  Phaethon  not 
turn  his  fireblazing  horses  to  his  setting  before  I 
bring  in  the  Satyrs,  and  Bacchos  bound  with  galling 
fetters,  with  his  spotted  cloak  torn  to  rags  on  his 
chest  by  my  spear  and  his  thyrsus  thrown  away. 
Bum  to  ashes  with  my  brand  the  long  flowing  hair 
of  the  women  and  their  wreaths  of  vine !  Courage 
all !  After  the  Indian  battle  you  may  sing  the 
glorious  victory  of  Deriades,  that  even  in  many 
generations  to  come  people  may  shiver  to  face  the 
unconquerable  Indians  born  of  the  Earth  !  " 

1*1  He  spoke,  and  passing  from  one  to  another  of 
his  chieftains  he  goaded  on  the  drivers  of  the  ele- 
phants, those  creatures  of  endless  life,  and  set  the 
chiefs  in  their  places  to  lead  the  army  of  footsoldiers 
to  the  battle  in  close  columns.  With  equal  passion  for 
the  fight,  Bacchos  thyrsusmad  drove  to  the  combat 

IS 


NONNOS 

els   ivOTTTjV  pdKX€V€V'   6pi.rp€<j>€€^   hk   fUl)f7Tol 

SaLfiovLY)  ppvxf]^ov  €paKX€vdr)(7av  ifidoBXjj, 

Kai  TToXifs  iK  orofidTOiv  tKopvoarro  fiaiv6fi€POf  ftjp* 

wfiopopcov  Sc  SpdKovr€9  aTroTrruovrcf  SSwnav 

TTjXepoXov^  TTOfiTrevov  c?  -qcpa  niSajcaf  loO  ITO 

Xdafiart,  avpi^ovri  fitfivKorog  dv0€p€un'O^, 

Aofd  TrapaoKalpovres'  <V  dvrifiloDS  hk  6op6¥Ttt 

avTOfxaTov  gkottov  ctxov  €;(iSi^crr€y  Surrol' 

Kal  GKoXiaiS  IXiK^aaiv  ifurpwOrj  S^/xa;  *I»«8«r 

elXoficvojv,  ppoT€OVS  Sc  TToSa?  cnlrqKaMmro  attp^       |7i 

et?  Bpofiov  diooovras.     *Ap€ifiav€€i  &€  ymmarcf 

Sijptv  €fiLp,riaavTo  SpaxoirropoXov  Oi3aA<tt^, 

17  7roT€  Kevrpov  exovaa  Ywauc€ioio  KvSoifAoO 

Sucr/xcvca?  viK7)0€v  c^tSioJcaai  Kopvfifioi^   ,   .   . 

/cat  Tt9  a77-6  <jrop.dTO)v  hoXixdoKiov  cyjfoy  ldXXut¥    |§o 

toy  a/coj^tOT^pa  Kar€7rrv€  ^"qpiahrjos, 

Kal  <f)ovl7j  paddfiiyyi,  ;(aAi/^  cSiat t^rro  Bwpirff, 

Koi   vIkVS    CV   X^O»^i    /fClTO    TVTTCiy    l,<i>ovn   ^X4fi¥(l$, 

aTTvoos  dfi<l>L€7TCJv  jScAo?  ^pLTTvoov.     opSondSwv  hi 

€t?  Xo<j)iT]v  iTTLKvprov  dvot^a^  €X€<f>dvra»v  186 

TTopSaAt?  rnxyp-qro  ficrdpaio^  oA/zari  rapawv 

TTVKvd  8e  drip^ioLo  KarearripiKTO  Kapijvov, 

Kal  BpofJLOv  Tjivprjae  TawKm^jjuov  €X€<f>diTcjv, 

Kal  TToXifs  eajJLog  CTTtTrre,  ^apvafiapdywv  drro  XatfUju¥ 

^piKTOV    ipTjflOVOpXOV    duxJV   ppV)^fJLa    X€6vT<JJV'  190 

Kai  Ti?  ivLKrjdTj  Tpofjidojv  fiVKi^fiara  ravpov, 

/cat  poos  eloopoojv  pXoavpijs  yXwxlva  K€paxr^ 

Xo^ov  dKovrit^ovaav  is  rjcpa-  fjyoiraXios  8< 

€ts"  <f)6Pov  dXXos  opovacv  xriTo^piaauiv  yivw  dpKTov 

d-qpclais  8'  iaxjjaiv  ofioKrvnos  dXXos  €n    aXXt^         195 

14. 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  166-195 

his  line  of  wild  beasts  from  the  wilderness.  These 
mountainbred  warriors  roaring  under  the  divine  whip 
rushed  madly  on.  Many  wild  beasts  were  there 
with  their  weapons  in  their  mouths.  There  were 
serpents  spitting  from  their  ravening  teeth  fountains 
of  poison,  which  they  sent  farshot  into  the  air  with 
hissing  gape  and  rattling  throat.  Leaping  sideways 
and  darting  at  their  foes,  the  snaky  arrows  found  a 
mark  which  offered  itself ;  the  bodies  of  the  Indians 
were  surrounded  and  imprisoned  by  the  coils,  the  feet 
of  men  starting  to  run  were  entangled  in  a  rope. 
The  war-niaddened  women  imitated  the  attack  of 
Phidaleia  "  the  snakethrower,  who  once  was  stung 
to  show  what  a  woman  could  do  in  battle,  and  con- 
quered her  enemies  with  clusters  of  snakes. 

1^  One  shooting  a  spike  of  poison  from  his  mouth 
like  a  longshafted  spear  bespattered  Deriades,  and 
his  corselet  of  steel  was  wetted  by  the  deadly  drops. 
Dead  on  the  ground  lay  a  body  struck  by  a  living 
missile,  lifeless  with  a  living  shot  in  him.  A  panther 
leapt  through  the  air  with  his  feet  upon  the  curved 
neck  of  a  straightleg  elephant,  and  stuck  close  to 
the  monster's  head  delaying  the  course  of  all  the 
longlegged  elephants.  A  great  swarm  fell,  when 
they  heard  the  lions  from  the  wilderness  and  the 
terrible  loud  roar  resounding  from  their  throats. 
One  was  conquered  trembling  at  the  bellow  of  a  bull, 
and  seeing  the  point  of  his  formidable  horn  stabbing 
sideways  into  the  air ;  another  leaped  into  flight 
shuddering  at  the  jaws  of  a  bear  ;  the  hounds  of 
an  invincible  Pan  gave  tongue  one  after  another,  in 

"  Wife  of  Byzas,  founder  of  Byzantium.  The  Scjrthians 
attacked  the  city  in  his  absence,  and  she  drove  them  oflF  by 
throwing  snakes  at  them. 

15 


NONNOS 

Uavos  dvLKTiToio  Kvwv  avwXdKr€€  Xoi^. 
/cat  ^66ov  vXaKOfiwpov  €0€idura¥  tuBo>wtt 

avvrj  8*  dfi(t>or€poiaiv  ofioivyof  ^€V  *EtmA 
yala  8c  Supcjovaa  <l>6vov  KV^ialvtro  Xli^p^ 

KT€LVOfl€VajV    €KaT€/)^(,    IToXvOnt p4Ut¥   Off    M) 

ttXtjOvl  ToaaaTir)  vckvcjv  iartlvtro  Ai{^* 
X^Lpl  8*  dvoxXii,u)v  'AtSiyy  dp^fuo¥  ox^ 
evpvrepovg  TwXeojva^  iotv  toifc  fuXiBotMlf 

KT€LVOfJL€VO}V    €KdT€p6€,    SiCaOt'/iOtor   M   fitpSBftm 

TaprdpLov  fiviajfia  \apojt'tS4i  ttmmctf  ^J|#M.  Mi 

Kat  TToAu?  €yp€KvSoifjLo^  €yjy  trrvnof,  dtmfiUm^  U 
<l)T€LXrj  KTapJvwv  mpoT pottos ,  o»¥  6  ^Up  a^rwr 
LTTTTodcv  <l}Xlad7)a€  r€TVfifL4voi  dv€fptw¥a, 
OS  86  /card  orfpvoio  irtpirpoxpv  awrvya  ftmfioOf 
OS  8e  p,€oov  K€v€cjva  TTtircLpfiivoi  itaniH  hi^mf'      tlO 
aAAo?  €t;)/Ac6;(ti't  nap*  6p,^KiXov  dMpo¥  SuFT^ 
pXrjp,€vos  avTOKvXKTTos  ofiiXtt  /(rrori  *^''P5*» 
Off  8e  TVTrci?  pLiodrqs  xmkp  aiTvyo^,  ^  M  01    iSflOV 
/cat  <l>xryds  dXXos  CTrirrrc  pax*^  rtrofnjuJpof  0dxft§, 
7T€^6s  dcXXrjcvra  T€TVfip.€vov  iTnrov  i<iaaf  SU 

OS  8e  7r€(7a>v  d^iouAo?  oSu/xro  owTpo^or  j||fcp 
/cat  Tts"  dvaA^Tjrai  K€\apay^ivos  ^ap  6ufr^ 
KvpL^axos  cf  €X€<f>avTos  cVcySoinnyac  tcot4n, 
Kpdra  Trapa/cAiVas*  BaTrdhio,  kcu  ;(C^Mf  ^^A*^V 
alfJLoXcrjv  TTTjxwc  /caT7^<^'i  yaiov  dyoorip.  f|D 

Kat  Tt9  dmiyp  LTTTrqos  €vavria  ho^Quos  <<'^» 
/cat  ad/ceo?  /ccvcoiixi  X*'^^  €nXTfa€  KOi'iTj^, 
/cat  x^oi'i  rapadi'  €nrjl^€,  8<8€y^otK  dWpof 
Xctpt  8e  dapaaXcT]  7ToXv6aihaXov  danCba  ^ 
iTTTTelrjv  ipafiddoLOiv  oXrjv  ippaivtv  oironnjr* 
''a/cxeucra?  8€  Kdprjvov  dvoj  v€.vovti  vpoowwm 

avr^ojprjTO  KoviGaX€rjv  T^'^a  atitja¥f 
K 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  196-227 

concert  with  the  roars  of  the  wild  beasts,  and  the 
swarthy  Indians  feared  their  loudbarking  attack. 

^^®  There  was  hard  fighting  on  both  sides  alike ; 
the  thirsty  earth  was  inundated  with  blood  and  gore 
in  the  common  carnage,  and  Lethe  was  choked  with 
that  great  multitude  of  corpses  brought  low  and 
scattered  on  every  side.  Hades  heaved  up  his  bar 
in  the  darkness,  and  opened  his  gates  wider  for  the 
common  carnage  ;  as  they  descended  into  the  pit 
the  banks  of  Charon's  river  echoed  the  rumblings  of 
Tartaros. 

20«  Loud  indeed  was  the  battlestirring  noise,  many 
the  wounds  of  the  falling  combatants  on  both  sides. 
One  struck  in  the  throat  slipt  from  his  horse,  one 
pierced  through  the  chest  in  his  rounded  bosom,  one 
wounded  in  the  belly  fell  from  a  chariot.  Another  hit 
just  in  the  midnipple  with  a  barbed  arrow  rolled 
himself  over  to  meet  approaching  death ;  one  fell 
struck  right  on  the  waist,  one  through  the  shoulder, 
another  left  his  swift  horse  struck,  and  fleeing  on 
foot  fell  pierced  by  a  lance  through  the  spine. 
Another,  felled  before  the  down  was  on  his  face, 
mourned  for  his  yearsmate  youth.  Another  mor- 
tally wounded  by  an  arrow  in  the  liver,  fell  tumbling 
off  his  elephant  with  a  thud  into  the  dust ;  his  head 
sank  on  the  ground,  he  scrabbled  with  his  hands  and 
clutched  the  bloody  soil  in  despair. 

221  A  man  stood  sideways  to  meet  a  horseman  ;  he 
had  filled  the  hollow  of  his  shield  with  dust,  and  fixed 
his  foot  firmly  awaiting  the  man's  onset.  Pushing 
out  the  handsome  shield  in  his  bold  hand,  he 
smothered  the  horse's  head  with  sand.  The  horse 
reared  wildly  and  threw  up  his  head  shaking  the  dust 

VOL.  Ill  C  17 


NONNOS 

KafiTTvXa  5'  evXdiyyo^  a-nttrnHv  attpa  xpXanB* 
Tpi^oiv  8*  ayKvX^ovra  naXwo^dvfi¥  yhn^ 
vifjLTCvrjg  hehovrjTOf  Kai  opBiov  av)(dva  waAktttf 
otorprjct?  dxaXivog  iirfarr^pll^tro  yavQ 
TToaolv  oTnadiblouji,  koI  aiBvaatav  k6¥%»  ovAf 
€1?  iT€hov  r)K6vrLl^€V  d-noacnnwp  if^^fia. 
avrdp  6  k€kXhi€vw  ra^w  ihpa^  KOfixapOf 
yOjivov  €-)(U}v  Ooov  dop'  virip  5a«r^Sor  M 
Kvavcov  npofiaxoio  hUBpia€v  avBtptw^a, 

"AXXos  epiTTTolrjro^  tx^itro  nutXot  dLXifn^f, 
yclrovos  rjvLoxou)  B€B€yfi4voi:  ^X^*^  IfuioOktif, 
OLKTpov  iov  dirqcKovTa  hioartifioiP  iXar^pa, 
K€LfjL€vov  dpTiSdiKTov,  €inairaipovra  Komfgi, 

KoXX-qTrjs  8*  dniX^dpo^  €x^v  9rcpc^i{«rca 
8vafiaxos,  iweaTrqxys,  ofioiio^  * AXtnntfiji, 
IBaKx^lyj^  Kara  pAaaov  ipxxlvtro  ^i^ior^ror* 
^aoGapihoiv  hk  <l>dXayrya  fi€ra  kXovo¥  fj^tXof  Amir 
€t?  €vvrju  dvdehvov  dvayKaiwv  vfuvaitat^, 
Kal  Kcvcfj  TToAcftifev  in*  cArrSi,  TTjXucof  M^, 
olos  e-qv  dpaavs  *Oto9  dv€fiParov  alBipa  /nia««r« 
dyvov  dwiJL<t>€VTov  irodiiov  Acres'  lox^oiffft, 
olo£  €7)v  ^iXeojv  Ka6apr]s  vfiivauov  *A&ij^ 
vijjiveijyris  cV  "OAu/xttov  dKovrllatv  *E^i<Un|r* 

KoAA^TT^S'    TTcAc    TOtO?    V7T€pT€pO^,    oW^pi   ythwt^, 

Trjyeveos  rrpoyovoLO  derjfidxov  alfia  komjU^/u^, 
IvSov  TrpojToyovoLO'  Kal  dpKios  cttActo  fiop^ 
SrjaaL  dovpov  "Aprja  fieO*  utVaj  'I^fxcScti^* 
oAAa  Tooov  7T€p  iovra  ywrj  KTdv€v  of  €4  nirpff. 


"  A  giant. 

^  Otos  and  Ephialtes,  the  gigantic  sons  of  Alocut  and 
18 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  228-255 

out  of  his  mane,  and  spat  out  the  curved  ends  of 
his  jewelled  bit.  His  champing  teeth  and  jaw  were 
covered  with  foam,  he  rose  high,  shaken,  mad,  and 
now  free  of  the  bit  he  rose  up  on  his  hind  legs 
quivering  and  shivering  his  outstretched  neck  ;  then 
pawing  the  dust  ^vith  his  hoof  he  shot  his  rider 
flying  to  the  ground.  The  other  man  rushed  fiercely 
upon  him  as  he  lay,  with  svnft  sword  drawn,  and  cut 
the  throat  of  the  black  soldier  stretched  on  the 
ground. 

^^  Another  horse  hearing  the  crack  of  some 
driver's  whip  hard  by,  took  fright  and  bolted  in  re- 
treat, trampHng  on  his  own  rider,  who  lay  wounded 
and  dying,  poor  wretch,  gasping  in  the  dust. 

^^  Colletes  with  his  huge  body,  immense,  for- 
midable, nine  cubits  high,  equal  to  Alcyoneus,**  went 
raging  through  the  fighting  hosts  of  Bacchos.  He 
wished  after  the  battle  to  drag  a  company  of  Bas- 
sarids  to  his  bed,  and  no  brideprice  paid  for  the 
forced  bridals.  But  that  was  an  empty  hope  he 
fought  for,  that  mighty  man  :  Hke  bold  Otos,*'  who 
would  tread  the  forbidden  ground  of  heaven  for  lust 
of  the  holy  bed  of  Archeress  the  unwedded  ;  like 
Ephialtes,  whose  love  was  for  wedlock  with  pure 
Athena,  when  he  attacked  Olympos  in  the  clouds 
on  high.  Such  was  Colletes,  gigantic,  heavenhigh, 
having  in  him  the  sacrilegious  blood  of  his  giant 
ancestor  the  founder  of  the  Indian  race.  He  was 
great  enough  to  put  Ares  in  prison  Uke  the  sons  of 
Iphimedeia.     But  huge  as  he  was,  a  woman  killed 

Iphimedeia,  tried  to  scale  heaven  by  piling  mountains  on 
one  another,  Horn.  Od.  xi.  305  fF.  (That  they  did  it  to  win 
goddesses  to  wife  is  a  later  fancy ;  in  Homer  they  are  children.) 
They  also  bound  Ares,  H.  v.  385  flF. 

19 


NONNOS 

BaKxt>dSos  XapOTTCia  Kvfi€pvr(T€ifKL  xo/xci^f . 

Kat  Tt?  apiarevovaav  Ibwv  wlfavx€va  nuumff 
davfia  xoAa>  Kcpdaa^  rpop,€pi)v  i^Biy^wro  ^tttHjfr 

"  "^A/jc?,  "Apes,  AiTTf  Tofa 

Kal  acTTTiBa  «((u  ado  XSyX!^» 
^Ap€s,  iavXrjOrjg,  Xitrc  KavKOXiov  dvhpo^itfOVt  y^  SI9 
dAAoia?  Aiowaos  *AfJLa^6vag  €»?  ficSot^  iXxti* 
6rrXo<f)6pov9  hoveovaiv  dmoTriScy  ^fur^pov  yap 
ovK  OLTTO  SepfjLiobovTos  ids  €K6p,iaa€  ywaoofttf . 
fctvov  tSov  /cat  dniarov  iyd)  rvnov  ov  aOKOt  cSfUMf , 
ov  86pv  dovpov  exovaiv  'Afia(ovt3€9  Aiovdootf*         Mi 
ou  TOCTOV  €vda)prjK€S  dpurr€vovai  ywohcti 
KauK-aatScs"  BdK;(at  Sc  <l>iXo7rr6p6wv  and  Yttpwi^ 
<j)vX\dhas  at;(/i,dJouai,  if  at  ov  \aT€Ovai  oA^foa, 
ojfJLOL  AryptdSao  /xc/xt^voto?,  otti  yin^wccj 
XoXkclovs  ovvx^aai  8taa;(tJouat  ;(tTci>i«ay."  fTO 

"EwcTTc  dap-^-qaa^  Kpavaov  /ScAo?,  orov  tXoOaa 
TrjXlKov  vipiKdprjvov  dncKravev  dvtpa  Bdir;^. 

ArjpLdhrjs  8*  d/ci;^TOj  CTTcSpafic  Bvidai  hoKj^f, 
Kal  XapoTTT^v  ihCojKe  XiOoaaoov  rj  S<  <^vyovoa 
ixdpvaro  BapaT^eaaa  napiarap^cit]  ^lovvaat,  S7t 

Bvpoov  dKovritfOvaa  ^iXdvOip-ov  VLvdhi  xdpt^JJ' 
ArjpidSrjs  8*  *Opt^aAAov  dTrqXoirjac  ai&qpw, 
J^ovp-qr ojv  6p.6<f>vXoVf  *Aj3arri8o9  doroi'  dpovprfs. 
Kal  KOTccjv  erdpoio  ScSoinroro?  dp;f09  *A/3avrttir 
KapiJLivwv  pamXrja  KaTCTrp-qvt^c  MeAiaacwy,  tn 

KuAAapov,  o^udevTt  /car'  avx^vos  dopi  rwffa^, 
AcDyaalSrjv  d\  os  fiovvos,  cVct  ao<f>6s  €GK€  pLay^qrrfi, 
ATjpidSr)  fiefieXrjTO  Sopidpaaewv  rrX^ov  ^Ivhatv 

«  Hindu  Kush.  »  See  xx.  198, 

20 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  256-283 

him  with  a  sharp  stone,  Charopeia  a  leader  of  the 
Bacchic  dance. 

257  And  one  seeing  the  noble  deed  of  the  high- 
necked  girl,  spoke  in  trembling  tones  with  wonder 
and  anger  mixed  : 

259  "  Ares  !  Ares  !  Leave  your  bow  and  shield  and 
your  spear  !  Ares,  you  are  conquered  !  Leave  the 
Caucasos,**  for  Dionysos  is  bringing  another  sort  of 
Amazons  into  the  field,  to  kill  men.  Shieldless  they 
rout  men-at-arms.  Not  from  your  Thermodon  ^  has 
he  brought  his  women.  I  have  seen  a  strange  and 
incredible  spectacle  ;  the  Amazons  of  Dionysos  have 
no  shields  on  their  shoulders,  carry  no  valiant  spear ; 
with  strong  corselets  and  all,  the  Caucasian  women 
do  not  so  play  the  heroes.  The  Bacchant  women 
cast  bunches  of  leaves  from  foliage-loving  hands, 
and  they  need  no  steel.  Alas  for  the  madman 
Deriades,  when  women  tear  coats  of  mail  with  their 
fingernails !  " 

271  This  he  said,  when  he  marvelled  at  the  rude 
missile  which  the  Bacchant  girl  picked  up  and  killed 
that  huge  highheaded  man. 

273  But  Deriades  ran  untouched  against  the  fren- 
zied Bacchants,  and  pursued  Charope  who  threw  the 
stone  ;  but  she  escaped,  and  took  her  stand  fighting 
boldly  beside  Dionysos,  stabbing  with  her  flowery 
thyrsus  in  the  Euian  battle.  Then  Deriades  killed 
Orithallos  with  his  spear,  one  of  the  Curetian  tribe 
from  the  land  of  the  Abantes.  Their  chief  MeHsseus 
in  anger  for  his  comrade's  fall,  struck  down  Cyllaros 
king  of  the  Carminians,  cutting  his  throat  with  his 
sharp  sword,  and  Logasides,  who  alone,  because  he 
was  accomplished  in  the  art  of  war,  was  more  precious 
to  Deriades  than  any  of  the  bold  Indian  spearmen, 

21 


NONNOS 

Kat  fjLiv  dva$  <t>tXM  fi€ra  Moppta-  noXXdtn  h*  air§ 
*0paip6rj  Kal  amicTt  /xit]?  itpavat  rpair^l^fft,  tit 

Ovyarepwv  paaiXrjo^  o/icWuK*  afx^^rtpots  y^ 
cyxe'C  Kal  TTpaTrihtoaiv  imtp^aXt  awrpoftav  np^» 
evda  TToXvs  TTpofidxco  npofio^  rjpiotv  ^i^(Uil||  ol 
YlcvKeTLO)  TroAc'/xtfcv  dc/KTiwoSrys"  'AXijA^fiflf, 
Kal  OAoyioj  KiKopvaro  Mdp<i>i<  ical  BoimWa  Ai|t«i^.  M9 

*YGp,Lirrjg  Sc  ToAaiTa  Tra-rqp  txXiVt  Kpo^iimr 
Kal  PpLapo)  AioKuaoj  ifiapvaro  AijpioS^, 
fiL^as  €}/;^€t  dvpaov  dKoyro(f>6p<^  S4  fUixffTn 
7T7J  p,€v  aKovTL^oini  p.€TdTponov  clSo9  nftfipam 
Svaaro  TiavTol-qs  noXvSaibaXa  ^a/iara  fiop^ftlt'      9$ 
TTTJ  8c  dveXX-qeaoa  Kopvoa€To  fiaivofuvi)  ^Aof , 
dy/cuAoi'  ai^uacrouaa  acAa?  p-nrdpfioyt  Kanvt^, 
oAAore  KVfJLaii'CJV  cxTT-ar^Aioi'  (pp€€V  vhotp, 
vypos  6iGr€V(x)v  hiepov  fiiXo^'  dfuf>Uwwv  M 
lGO(f)V€s  filiirjp.a  Xeovreioio  TTpocramov  90O 

opdiov  rj€pTa^€  p.€rdpaiov  dv6€p€wvat 
TpTjx^^X^ov  ppv)(T]p.a  xiuiv  TTVKiv6rpi)(i  Xam<^ 
Kal  KeXaSov  Ppovralov  ipiafiapdyoio  rotcno^' 
Kal  GKLepijs  (f>op€U)v  TToXvSaiBaXov  ctSo9  omupnrif 
dXXo(l)avr)s  p.op<t)ovTO,  Kal  cuccAos^  epifi  yaiff^  JQ9 

avTorcXrjg  aKixqros  dv€bpafi€V,  aldtpa  Tvnrury, 
cos  TTLTVs,  ojs  TrXaTdviaros'  dfi€iPofX€vov  &<  KOfiVfifov 
fup,7jXoLS  TreToAoiori  voOrjv  Sci'SpcjoaTO  "xai^^t 
yaarepa  Odfivov  e^ajv  7T€pip,iJK€TOV'  dtcpffiova^  St 
X^Lpas  ids  7TOL7]a€,  Kal  €<f>Xoiwa€  ;(iTdi>xi9,  aiO 

Kal  TToSas  ippit^cjoev  dvaKpovwv  hk  Ktpaiai^* 
fxapvapLevov  jSaatATyos"  eTrctpidvpi^c  npoaumw' 

Kal    OTLKTOLS    pLcXeCGGl    TVTTOV   fUfir)X6v    wfxUVUtV 

TTopSoAt?  vipLTTOTTjTos  dvihpafjiev  aXfiari  rapaorv, 

KoX  Xo(f)i,rjs  indpaivev  dcpaiXoifHjjv  cAc^dvroiv  3U 

22 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  284^315 

and  the  king  loved  him  best  after  Morrheus — often 
he  touched  one  table  with  Orsiboe  herself  and  the 
king,  living  in  the  family  with  the  king's  daughters, 
for  both  with  spear  and  wits  he  surpassed  all  his  years- 
mates.  Then  many  a  captain  fought  against  cap- 
tain :  tall  agile-footed  Halimedes  against  Peucetios, 
Maron  against  Phlogios,  Leneus  against  Thureus. 

2*1  Father  Cronion  tilted  the  balance  of  battle. 
Now  Dionysos  attacked  mighty  Deriades,  matching 
spear  with  thyrsus.  As  the  chieftain  stabbed  and 
thrust,  the  god  changed  his  shape,  and  put  on  all  sorts 
of  varied  forms.  Sometimes  he  confronted  him  as  a 
wild  storm  of  fire,  shooting  tongues  of  crooked  flame 
through  dancing  smoke.  Sometimes  he  was  running 
water,  rolling  delusive  waves  and  sprinkling  watery 
shots.  Or  taking  on  the  exact  image  of  a  lion's 
face,  he  lifted  high  his  chin  straight  up  and  let 
out  a  harsh  roar  through  the  hairy  throat,  with  a 
noise  like  his  loudcrashing  father's  rattling  thunder. 
Next  like  something  with  an  overshadowing  mass  of 
variegated  fruitage  he  changed  into  another  shape, 
and  like  a  sapling  of  the  earth  he  ran  up  selfmade, 
bursting  into  the  sky  untouched,  a  perfect  pine,  or 
a  plane  ;  for  his  head  changed  and  his  hair  became 
what  seemed  the  counterfeit  foliage  of  a  tree,  his 
belly  lengthened  into  the  trunk,  he  made  his  arms 
the  boughs  and  his  dress  the  bark  and  rooted  his  feet, 
and  knocking  up  with  his  long  branches  he  whispered 
into  the  face  of  the  fighting  king.  Then  he  wove  a 
dappled  pattern  over  his  limbs,  and  like  a  panther  he 
was  up  in  the  air  with  flying  leaps,  and  dropping  with 
gentle  steps  upon  the  neck  of  some  lofty  elephant ; 

^  (fnXeei  Tiedke,  tf>iX4oi  mss.  and  Ludwich. 
*  So  MSS. :  Ludwich  Kcpalas- 

2S 


NONNOS 

Kov(l>a  pLpd^'  €X€<f>a9  8^  nafyqopo^  apfia 
ctV  TTchov  rjKovTL^c  dcrjfidxov  rivioxfja, 
aeioyv  <t>aiSpd  XtrraSva  Kai  ayKvXa  kvkXol  ;(oAfpdr. 
oifSc  7T€Gajv  dfieXrjae  TTiXwp  npofio^,  dXXa  AvoX^f 
fxapvaro  iiop<t>a)d€VTi  koI  ovraat  nopSaXiv  <MX^j.    J*> 
aAAa  ndXiv  p,€Tdfi€Ltp€  6€6s  b^fia^'  i^i^am^  yap, 
Tjepa  depyiaivojv,  iXcXl^ero  -nvpao^  dXtgrqi, 
aWvaawv  dv4pLOis  <f>Xoy6€V  P^Xo^,  ^f4*  ^  l^odf 
arrjOea  Xa)(yrJ€VTa  hi4rp€X€  ^-qpia&rjo^ 
KVKXodev  v^jLTTopov  5c  ScScy/xcvo^  oA/iara  KHirvoO  ttS 
dpyewals  Xayov^aaiv  "Apa^  c/xcAou^cro  $wptf(, 
paXX6fJi€vos  (rmvdrjpi,'  iwpipXrfrov  hk  ^pijof 
T^/itSaT)?  i^cCovTL  Xoifxi)  d€pp.aiv€ro  Tn)XTj^   .   .   . 
€/c  pXoavpov  be  Xcovro^  €<^lveTo  Kanpo^  dXijrrff, 
evpvvwv  jJLcya  ydapia  hacwrpix^  dvOtpfatvo^,  310 

/cat  Xo^ir^v  TTcXdoas  em  yaarcpi  Srjpiahfjof 
opdos  oTnadihioio  nohog  arr)pt^€TO  naXfLw, 
OriyaXeoLs  dvvx€(JGi  fxcaov  K€i'€wi'a  ;(a/>da<7aM<'. 

ArjpidSrjs  8*  VTTcponXos  ifidpvaro  <f>dap.ari  Kot^^, 
iXnlSi  fiaipihlri  TT€(f>op7)p.€.vos'  rjOeXt  8*  aUl  y^ 

diftavoTOLs  dKixqrov  cAcu'  ('ihwXov  aytxrroty 
dvTiTVTTOV  he  AcovTO?  iov  hopv  nrj^e  furttrnm, 
fivOov  dneLXrjTrjpa  ;fco>v  noXvtiB^i  Baic;^a>* 

**  Tt  Trrdjaaeis t  Aiojo^ac; 

tL  aoi  B6X09  dvTi  KvSoifUfv; 
ArjpLaSrjv  Tpofiewv  TToXvSaiSaXov  etSo^  dfLeifiei^;      ^40 
TTophaXis  ov  kXov€€l  fie  <j>xryo7rroX€pu>v  Aiomrov, 
apKTOv  otCTTcuoi,  #cat  hevhpeov  dopi  refivw 
ifjevSofievov  Sc  Xeovros  iyuj  Kcvecjin  xf'pdfw. 
oAAct  Go<l)ovs  Bpaxp.i]vas  aTevxeas  «V  a€  Kopvaaw 
24, 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  316-344 

the  elephant  lunging  sideways  smashed  the  car  and 
shot  the  impious  driver  to  the  ground,  shaking  off 
yokepads  and  bit  and  bridle."  Even  though  fallen 
the  gigantic  warrior  would  not  leave  him  alone,  but 
fought  with  Lyaios  transformed  and  wounded  the 
panther  with  his  spear.  But  again  the  god  changed 
his  shape :  a  moving  firebrand  he  rose  high,  heating 
the  air  and  shooting  a  fiery  bolt  through  the  wind, 
running  all  over  the  breast  and  shaggy  chest  of 
Deriades.  His  Arabian  mailcoat  was  blackened  as 
the  gusts  of  smoke  struck  on  his  white  flanks  from 
above  and  the  sparks  fell  on  him ;  his  crest  burnt 
up  and  the  helmet  grew  hot,  half-scorched  upon  the 
firestruck  wearer.  [Then  he  took  a  lion's  shape, 
and  .  .  .*]  From  a  grim  lion  he  changed  to  a  wild 
boar,  opening  the  wide  gape  of  his  hairy  throat,  and 
bringing  his  bristles  close  to  the  belly  of  Deriades 
he  stood  up  straight  rearing  on  his  hind  legs,  and 
tore  through  his  flank  with  sharp  hooves. 

^^  Proud  Deriades  went  on  fighting  against  these 
unsubstantial  phantoms,  driven  by  vain  hopes,  ever 
seeking  to  grasp  the  intangible  image  with  hands 
that  could  not  touch.  At  last  he  thrust  his  lance 
in  the  face  of  the  lion  before  him,  and  cried 
threatenings  against  Bacchos  of  many  shapes  : 

^^  "  Why  do  you  hide  yourself,  Dionysos  ?  why 
tricks  instead  of  battle  ?  Do  you  fear  Deriades,  that 
you  change  into  so  many  strange  forms  ?  The 
panther  of  runaway  Dionysos  does  not  frighten  me, 
his  bear  I  shoot,  his  tree  I  cut  down  ^vith  my  sword,  the 
pretended  lion  I  will  tear  in  the  flank  !  Well  then, 
I  muster  against  you  my  wise  Brahmans,  unarmed. 

"  He  seems  to  see  the  elephant  yoked  to  a  chariot,  as  at 
Pompey's  triumph.  *  Several  lines  are  lost  here. 

25 


NONNOS 

yvfJLvol  yap  yeydcuji,  ^€oicA*^ot9  8'  ^iraoihdtf  34* 

TToAAa/ct?  r)€p6<l)OLTOV,  ofxotiov  djtryi  ravpt{t, 
ovpavodev  Kardyovres  €<f)apfid(ayTo  LcAnmr, 
TToXXaKL  8*  iTTTrcuorro?  €7T€iyofi€i'OJV  M  olpptM¥ 
daradeog  Oac^orro?  di^OTT^oiTO  nofHirp^.* 

"EwcTTC  TTaTTraivijjv  drtporpOTra  ^cur/xara  B<£«r)^*  JSO 
icat  voov  €tx€v  aTnarov  cuo^A^^  5^  fuvoofj 
re-xyr)v  (fKLpfiaKoeacrav  inippd^g  ^iovva<ft 
eXncTO  vLKrjacLv  Atoy  vUa  fivarihi  rtxyri' 

"Ev^a  dopojv  dKixqros  dvlhpa^uv  vijtcii  Sl^patir 
Kol  deos  d<t>paLvovTa  Oerjfidxov  dvhpa  boiC€VUi¥  *• 

dfJLTTcXov  epXdcrrqacv  dprjyova  briiornjro^. 
Kal  Tt?  €vara<t>vXoLo  ^ctJAotoj  oivdBo^  opunff 
ip7rvl,0}V  Kara  Paiov  cV  dpyvpOKVKXov  dm/i'iyv 
^r^pidh-qv  €a<l>Ly$€V  dnctXrjrrjpi  Kopvfifiip, 
dfi<t)L7repi,7TX€ySriv  7r€n€Srjp,€VOV'  dpriSaXrj  5^  m 

av}x<f)VTOV  aWvaaiov  cVl  fiorpvl  porpw  dXifrrp^ 
fiaLvojievov  paaiXrjos  iniaKiowvra  •nooaorm^ 
a€L€TO  fjLLTpayaa?  oXov  dv€pa'  ATjptd&rjv  h^ 
avTo<f)vr)s  iiiedvaacv  cAif  cucoSci  Kopnw' 
yvL07T€ST]v  8*  daihr)pov  €7T€7tX€K€  hi^uyi  rapat^t         3M 

Kol    TTohaS    €ppl^U)G€V    6fJLO^Vy€OJV    cAc^KTttfV    .     .     . 

appaydos  klogoZo'  koi  ov  roaov  oXxdha  irovrov 

dr^KTCL  nepLTrXeKecov  €xevTjibo<;  djcpa  ycvcioiv 

ScGficp  KapxapohovTL  StcoTTjptfc  daXaaai)' 

roXov  €7)v  p,Lp,7]iia.     fidrrfv  8*  iXi^fxivra^  €rr€ly%ja¥     X30 

rivioxos  ^apvhovTTov  i-qv  cAcAiJcv  l^udadXriv, 

Kcvrpois  o^vrepoLGLv  drrcidca  varra  x^^pdaaatv. 

Kol  roGov  *Iy8ov  dvaKra, 

Tov  OX)  Krdv€v  dantTOf  aij(fij^, 

djlTTeXoeLS    VLK7]G€V    cAlf    TTpOfMO^'    dp.tf>i€7TCJV   Bi 

r)fi€pL8(x)v  opTTTjKL  KaTdGx^Tov  dv6€p€(jjya  tn 

26 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  345-375 

For  they  go  naked  ;  but  their  inspired  incantations 
have  often  enchanted  Selene  as  she  passes  through 
the  air  Hke  an  untamed  bull,  and  brought  her  down 
from  heaven,  and  often  stayed  the  course  of  Phaethon 
swiftly  driving  his  hurrying  car." 

3^  He  spoke,  surveying  the  varied  visions  of 
Bacchos,  and  his  mind  was  still  unbeUeving  :  with 
implacable  will  he  hoped  to  contrive  some  scheme  of 
magic  against  Dionysos,  and  to  conquer  the  son  of 
Zeus  by  mystic  arts. 

3^  Then  he  leapt  unhindered  into  his  car;  but 
the  god  seeing  the  impious  man  still  foolish,  made 
a  vine  grow  to  help  his  attack.  The  godsent  plant 
laden  with  clusters  of  winefruit  crept  quietly  upon  the 
cart  with  its  silver  wheels,  and  smothered  Deriades 
in  its  threatening  clusters,  and  entangled  him  round 
about  and  over  all,  dangling  bunch  after  bunch  new 
grown  upon  itself  before  the  mad  king,  shading  his 
face  and  enveloping  the  whole  man.  And  Deriades 
was  intoxicated  by  the  sweetsmelling  fruit  of  the 
selfgrown  vine ;  it  threw  fetters  not  of  steel  about 
his  two  feet,  and  rooted  to  the  ground  the  legs  of 
the  yoked  elephants  with  trails  of  unbreakable 
ivy  *» :  not  so  firmly  is  the  seagoing  barge  held  fast 
on  the  main  by  the  toothed  bond  of  a  holdtheship,'' 
when  she  fastens  her  sharp  fangs  on  the  timbers. 
Yes,  it  was  just  like  that !  In  vain  the  driver  whipt 
up  his  elephants  and  swung  his  cracking  lash,  tearing 
the  obstinate  hide  with  sharper  prickles.  The  great 
Indian  prince,  whom  countless  blades  could  not  kill, 
was  conquered  by  the  tendrils  of  a  champion  vine  ! 
Deriades  struggling  with  his  throat  entangled  in  the 

"  This  seems  the  general  sense  of  the  Greek. 
"  See  xxi.  45  and  note. 

27 


NONNOS 

7JVLy€TO  ^rjpuj^rjg  gkoXiw  rtdXififi^vo^  6Xk^, 

/cat  fjLoyecjv  arivaKros  iXiaa^ro  fiaiva&i  ^ortrj, 

XeTTTOv  €X(J^v  oAoAuy/xa  dtovS^os  dv6€p€wvog, 

V€Vfiamv  d<l>d6yyoig  ucerqaia  Bdxpva  Xtifiatv 

Kal  TToXdfirjv  u)p€^€V  dvavSta,  fxdprupi  myj  300 

fioxOov  oXov  poocDV  TO  Bi  haKpvov  €irXtro  ^fn^* 

Kal  or/ceSaaa?  ^lovuao^  irjv  rroXv^afiov  imLpffjv 

yvLOTreSrjv  cvPorpvv  dv€anaa€  ArjpiaBrqos, 

Kcu  (Tr€<t>os  rjfJLepLBtov  iXucwSta  Kiaaov  iXdaoa/S 

ScGfjLLov  avx^va  Xvaev  oyuoTrXiKivjv  Ac^kavncur.  JM 

oif  Sc  <j>vyd}v  hpvoevra  rawTrropdoio  Kopvfifiov 

Seafjiov  aTreLXrjTTJpa  Kal  avroiXucrov  apdymp^ 

Ar]pLdhr)s  d7r€€L7T€V  iOijfiova  KOfinov  dntiXijs, 

dXXd  ndXiv  irpopLOs  €ok€  Beqfidxo^'  fix*  ^  fioMff 

Bix^aSlrjv,  Tj  BdKXOv  fXttv  rj  hfxwa  rtXiaofu,  JHI 

^ Ayi<f)OT€povs  8*  dv€KOip€  fidxT)^  dfl^pOflOf  <W*^' 
Kal  fJLodos  -^v  ficrd  vvKra,  Kal  urrvaXtcav  dno  XtKTpof^ 
iypoixlvovs  du)pnr)^€v  dfioiPairj  ndXiv  *Hctf(. 

Ovhc  fiodwv  rdXos  ^cv  €7r€iyofji4vw  Aiokmt^, 
oAAa  roacDv  {jLcrd  KVKXa  KvXivSofi€vcjv  cioavrcur      M6 
pvOfiov  'En;aAtoto  fid-njv  €Tr€p6fip€€  adXiriyf, 
tJSt]  S*  iypcfiodcuv  ireajv  noXvKafxn€i  irvaajj 
Ba/cxta?  o^tTcActTTOs-  cfiawcTo  fiaXXov  *EIruca. 

Ov  fi€V  d(l>€L8rjaavT€9  *Ap€ifiav€o^  Aiovvaov 
KoXXiTTov  dp^vrjOTOLGi  ftc/xT^Aoxa  fivOov  dipxui  400 

AiKTatoL  *PaSafidv€s  6fi6<f>pov€S'  dXXa  Avcuw 
vfjas  ir^xyrioavTO  fiaxrjp.oi'ag'  difjuftl  &€  XoxfUHS 
ttoIttvvov  dXXo0€v  dXXos'  6  /xcv  TopvoHjaro  you/^vf, 
28 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  376-403 

vine-twigs  was  choked  and  crushed  in  the  winding 
trails.  For  all  his  labour  he  could  not  stir ;  where- 
fore he  adjured  in  tones  of  madness  and  sent  out 
a  stifled  cry  from  a  throat  now  pious,  and  prayed 
with  voiceless  movements  shedding  tears  of  supplica- 
tion ;  held  out  a  dumb  hand,  with  eloquent  silence 
uttered  all  his  trouble  ;  his  tears  were  a  voice. 

382  Then  Dionysos  dispersed  his  entanghng  fruit, 
and  broke  off  the  fettering  grapes  from  Deriades  ; 
then  shedding  the  twines  of  ivy,  he  undid  the  wreath- 
ing garland  of  garden-vines  from  the  yoked  elephants' 
necks.  Yet  Deriades,  now  free  from  the  woody 
bonds  of  the  long  branching  clusters  crawling  of 
themselves,  and  the  constraint  which  threatened 
him,  did  not  desist  from  his  wonted  threats  and 
boasts.  Once  more  he  was  the  chieftain  defying 
the  gods  ;  he  only  hesitated  whether  to  slay  Bacchos 
or  to  make  him  a  slave. 

3^1  But  darkness  surrounded  both  armies  and  put 
a  stop  to  the  fight.  Night  past,  the  battle  began 
again  ;  when  they  awoke  from  sleep  and  bed,  the 
succeeding  dawn  armed  them  once  more. 

3^  Not  yet  was  it  the  end  of  conflict  for  impatient 
Dionysos  ;  yet  first  there  must  be  many  cycles  of 
rolling  years  while  the  trumpet  blazed  the  tune  of 
war  in  vain  ;  but  after  the  varied  course  of  so  many 
battle-stirring  years,  now  the  conflict  of  Bacchos 
grew  more  violent  for  the  end. 

399  Now  the  Rhadamanes  of  Dicte  did  not  neglect 
the  command  of  warmad  Dionysos,  nor  left  it  for 
the  forgetful  winds  to  care  for  ;  but  with  one  accord 
they  built  ships  of  war  for  Lyaios.  Through  the 
woods  they  were  busy,  some  here,  some  there.  One 
was  turning  pegs,  one  worked  at  the  middle  of  the 


NONNOS 

09  Sc  iJL€<rqv  TTcnoirqTO  n€pl  rponiv,  itcpia  B*  SXXof 
opda  7T€pl  crrafjLCvcGmv  dfxoijSaii/atv  v^lvuw^ 
oXkoZi  roLXOV  €T€VX€V,  €7rrjyKtViSa^  hi 
jjLTjKeSavag  /carcTrr^fc,  Padwofxtim  hi  fuo^^fin 
lx€a(7o<l>avfj  fjL€oov  LGTov  "Apcujf  ajpSwaaro  Tf jcrair 
Xalcfyc'C  7T€7TTafi€va)  'n€<f>v\ay^Uvov'  adrap  iw*  dxpt^t 
Sovparcrjv  inCKvpTOV  ^Topvwaavro  Ktpairiv  410 

tSfMovcs  €V7raXdfJLOLO  Koi    Hifxiiarov  kcu  *A^^i^. 

"n?  ol  ficv  fjLoy€Ovr€S  afu^rp-u}  rivt  tcwH 
BcU^oj  vijas  €T€vxov.     €TTaij\aX6(jjv  hi  tcvdOifuL 
fjLavTOcrvvrjs  Alowoos  €^y  ifivrjaaro  'Pfiny, 
OTTt  TcAo?  TToXcfioio  <f>aviqa €Tai ,  omrorri  ocjcj^tH        iXb 
ilvaXi'qv  ^IvSolaiv  dvaarquuKTW  *E,yvw. 

Kal  AvKos  aKporoLTOio  hC  othyuaro^  i^ycfioycucur, 
vcvfiaaiv  drplirroLaiv  xmohpnf^awv  Acovuoov, 
dPpoxov  'qvLox^vcv  ohomopov  dpfia  daXdaatf^, 
'^X''  oo<j>ol  *Pa8a/ia»'€9,  oAtTrAavccs  furxivdarai,         420 
vfjas  irexy^crcLVTO  daXaaaonopw  Aiovvout. 
Kal  Tore  TCTpanopOLo  xpdvov  <rrpo<l>dXiyya  tofXlvhw^, 

tTTTTCUCOV  €TOS  eKTOV,  cXlGGCTO  KaflTTvXo^  AuoV    .     .     . 

€LS  dyoprjv  iKdXeaac  fieXappivwv  yivo^  *\vhaw 
ArjpLaSrjs  GKT)7Trovxo9'  inciyofUvoi  hi  9rc5c^  425 

Xaov  do AAt feu V  irepoSpoos  TJi€  KTJpv^. 
avTLKa  8*  rjyepedovro  TroXwnrepeojv  (rriX€S  *lvh<ja¥, 
i^ojJievoL  GTOLXTjhov  dpxn^aiojv  i-nl  fidJBpiov' 
Xaols  S'  dypofidvoLOLv  dva^  dyopnoaro  Moppet^* 
loT€,  (ptAoi,,  Taxo-  7TaVT€^, 

d  7T€p  Kafiov  vfltoSi  irvpvoir,  OO 
etaoKC  yata  KlXiaaa  Kal  *Aacrvpuov  y€V09  daiptu^ 
aup^eVa  SovXov  cKapAJjev  vno  fvyd  Arjpiohrjo^- 
lore  Kai^  oaaa  reXcaaa  Karaxxp^^tov  Aiovvaov, 

80 


i 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  404-433 

keel,  one  fitted  the  planks  straight  over  the  pairs  of 
ribs,  and  fastened  the  long  sideplanks  fixed  to  the 
ribs  making  the  vessel's  wall" ;  an  Arabian  shipwright 
raised  upright  in  the  middle  of  the  deep  mastbox 
the  mast  amidships,  reserved  for  the  spreading  sail ; 
and  skilled  workmen  of  deft  Hephaistos  and  Athena 
rounded  the  wooden  yard  for  the  top. 

*i2  So  they  wrought  ships  for  Bacchos  with 
really  incomparable  art.  And  Dionysos  amid  the 
anxieties  of  war  remembered  the  prophecy  of  his 
own  Rheia  :  that  the  end  of  the  war  would  be  seen, 
when  Bacchants  fought  by  sea  against  Indians. 

*^'  Lycos  appointed  by  irrevocable  command  of 
Dionysos  to  serve  as  commander  on  the  surface  of 
the  sea,  drove  his  seachariot  undrenched  travelling 
upon  its  way  to  the  place,  where  the  Rhadamanes, 
those  clever  voyagers  into  foreign  parts,  had  built 
the  ships  for  seafaring  Dionysos.  And  then  circling 
Time,  rolling  the  wheel  of  the  fourseason  year,  was 
whirling  along  for  the  sixth  year.  King  Deriades 
summoned  to  assembly  the  blackskin  nation  of 
Indians ;  the  herald  with  hurrying  steps  went 
gathering  the  people  and  cried  his  call  in  their 
different  languages.  At  once  the  many  tribes  of 
Indians  assembled,  and  sat  down  in  companies  on 
rows  of  benches,  and  prince  Morrheus  addressed 
the  assembly  : 

430  "  You  all  know,  I  think,  my  friends,  what  labours 
I  went  through  among  the  mountain  strongholds, 
until  the  Cilician  land  and  the  Assyrian  nation  bowed 
their  necks  as  slaves  under  the  yoke  of  Deriades. 
You  know  also  what  I  have  done  in  resisting  Dionysos, 

•  Horn.  Od.  V.  252-253. 

SI 


NONNOS 

fiapvdiicvos  SanJpoMTt  xai  afirfrijpi  ac^im» 
T€fiva)V  ix^pa  Kapnqva  pooKpaipoto  yfWflA^, 
OTTTTore  BaaaapiBojv  n€n€bT]fji€vov  €afi6v  iptiooat 
w-rraaa  ArjpLaSr),  iroXipLOV  y€pa^,  dtv  iW  Al^p^ 
dareos  cvXdiyycs  €<f>oivi)(BT)aav  dyviOi 
KT€Lvop,€va)v  €T€pai  Sc  pL€rdpau)V  dfi^  XOP^^ 
dyxovLO)  OXiPovro  TrcplnXoKov  avx^y^  htaft/^* 
oAAat  8*  vharocvTog  inciprfBrfaav  oXiBpov, 
Kp\mr6p.€vai  KcvdfiwvL  irihooKai^o^  i(€V€W¥Of. 
aXXd  irdXiv  vacTTjoLv  dp^lova  firjriv  v^taivw 
eloatoi  *PaSa/xavay,  ort  Bpirrofiw  tu4  t^X*1I 
vfjas  eTexvrioavTO  <f>uyo7TToX€fjup  ^lovvaw' 
efjLTTTjs  ov  Tpop.€Ui  hopv  vavfjLaxov  iv  noMfJUHf  yap 
dvSpa  (l)€p€aaaK€(Dv  K€Kopvdfuvov  v^ltoSi  yrfdi^ 
ouTtSavots"  TTCToAotat  7roT€  #rr€ivouai  yvMiorcf; 
^  TTore  XvGGoxvv  6p€a&popx>^  v^u<€0(ja^  rittr 
BrjyaXeoig  6vvx€(TaL  StaTftrj^ct  V€a9    IvSiov; 
ov  hvvaraL  PapvSovTTov  vBwp  ^€iXrfv6f  apdoauHP 
aTTToXipup  vdpdrjKi,  fiax^jfiova  yfja  KoAu^eu, 
et?  x^P^^  alfiaToevra  Oopwv  Auaacu^cc  rapaift, 
Kcofiov  dvaKpovcov  davarri<f>6pov'  ovS*  m  irdrry 
ravpclois  Kcpdcaai  TreTrappAvov  dvhpa  5a^i<i{f« 
dyxf'^o.vri  p,€adrot.o  Six^topJvov  K€V€wvo^, 
oAAa  TVTTels  TTpoKdpTjvos  aru/ijScuTo*  TiKt  iu^fJH 
KeCacTaL  iv  podioiaiv  oXiaOi^aotJUi  §€  Bcurvoi 
iyx^di  fJLTjKcBavoLGL  p,iaL(f>6vov  €19  pvdov  dXfii^s, 
Txynroixevai'  koX  vrjas  durrataw  Aiovvaov, 
vavjxaxov  elKoalirqxv  8t*  oXKdBos  €yxo9  iXiotnu^. 
oAAa,  <f)LXoi.,  p^dpvaade  TrcTToi^oTcy  dyTifiua¥  Si 
p/q  Tt?  v7TOTm]G(J€L€v  oTnTTevwv  aTix<i  VffWV 
BaKxt'dSojv  *Ii/Sot  yap  c^tJ/xopcV  ciat  KvSoifAOV 
clvaXlov,  Kal  {laXXov  dpiar^vovai  BaXda<rn 
S2 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  4>34rA65 

fighting  Satyrs,  and  cutting  off  the  hateful  heads 
of  that  oxhorned  generation  with  shearing  steel, 
when  I  dragged  away  and  delivered  to  Deriades 
that  fettered  swarm  of  Bassarids,  the  prizes  of  war ; 
and  how  the  paved  streets  of  the  city  were  purpled 
by  their  gore  as  they  were  massacred,  how  others 
had  a  dance  in  the  air  with  their  necks  choked  in  a 
throttling  noose,  how  others  were  swallowed  in  a 
deepdug  hollow  pit  and  learnt  what  a  watery  death 
is  like.  But  again  I  weave  a  better  notion  still 
for  our  people.  I  hear  that  the  Rhadamanes  have 
built  ships  for  Dionysos  the  runaway  by  some  wood- 
cutter's art  of  theirs.  However,  I  fear  not  the 
seafighting  tree  !  When  was  it  known  in  war  that 
women  with  paltry  leaves  kill  a  man  in  a  ship 
full  of  shields  ?  When  will  highhom  Pan,  the  crazy 
ranger  of  the  hills,  tear  Indian  ships  to  pieces 
with  sharp  claws  ?  No  Seilenos  can  row  over  the 
loudrumbhng  waters,  and  sink  a  ship  of  war  with  a 
peaceful  ferule,  leaping  to  bloody  dance  with  frenzied 
foot,  striking  up  a  chant  with  death  in  it ;  in  the 
sea  he  will  never  transfix  a  man  with  his  bullhorns, 
and  get  near  enough  to  cut  him  in  two  at  the  waist 
and  vanquish  him.  No  !  one  blow  shall  send  him 
headlong,  and  he  shall  lie  in  the  billows  where  he  will 
find  no  tomb  ;  the  Bacchant  women  struck  down  with 
long  spears  shall  sink  into  the  depths  of  the  sea  soiled 
in  blood.  And  the  ships  of  Dionysos  I  \^ill  destroy, 
thrusting  a  twentycubit  seafighting  spear  through 
the  hulk  ! 

*^2  "  Come  on,  friends,  fight  with  all  confidence. 
Let  no  one  shrink  when  he  sees  opposed  to  us  the 
ships  of  Bacchos  in  line  ;  for  Indians  are  used  to  fight- 
ing by  sea,  indeed  they  have  more  prowess  when 

VOL.  Ill  D  S3 


NONNOS 

rj  x^ovl  hr]pL6a}VT€9.     dviKrjra}  8^  m&riptft 
ov  TToAca?  ^arvpovs  Xr)iaaofitu,  dXXa  tcofidaiv 
dvrl  hi.r]Koaiu}v  Trpo^idy^iov  €va  fiowov  ipvaaw 
drjXvfiavij  ^lowaov,  oTrdova  Ai^pio&^of." 

"ft?  ehwv  Trap€7T€UJ€v  dS^Xyia  Atipia&rja  *T0 

Mopp€ug  aloX6firjTi9'  CTrc^cyfcuTO  8^  Xaol 
fivdov  €TTaiyijaavT€S'  ofioyXwaawv  8*  dtro  Xaifujj¥ 
otS/xaat  KiwyL€voLGiv  laodpoo^  €Pf>€fi€v  rix<^» 
Xvae  8*  dva^  dyopi^v.     BpofiUft  8*  ^ar^XXtro  fcfjpvf 
novTLOv  VGfiLvrjv  iviirwv  7r€iBijfiOvt  B<ur)^.  47ft 

"AfKfxjJ   8*    els   €V   I6vr€^   €pVKOfl€VOiO    KvSoifioO 

dfiPoXlrjv  TTOLTjaav  inl  rpla  KvnXa  5IcA»}in/^, 

€la6K€  Tapxvacjai,  haCKrayL€vwv  ori^a  V€Kpd»¥' 

tJv  8c  Tt?  elpTjvrj  fuwwpios  ''Ap€i  y€irio¥, 

if>vXo7nv  (hhivovaav  d(j)anXu}uaaa  yaXrivrjjv,  400 


84 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVI.  466-480 

they  fight  by  sea  than  by  land.  My  invincible  steel 
shall  not  take  many  Satyrs  ;  but  instead  of  two 
hundred  warriors  I  will  drag  home  one  by  the  hair 
alone,  womanmad  Dionysos,  to  be  the  servant  of 
Deriades." 

^"^^  With  this  appeal,  Morrheus,  cunning  man,  per- 
suaded implacable  Deriades.  The  people  all  cheered 
loudly  and  applauded  the  speech  :  one  concordant 
cry  resounded  from  all  throats  like  the  noise  of 
stirring  waves.  The  king  dismissed  the  assembly. 
The  herald  was  sent  to  Bromios  to  declare  war  by 
sea  against  willing  Bacchos. 

*^^  But  both  men  agreed  to  forbid  war  and  make  a 
truce  for  three  circuits  of  the  moon,  until  they  should 
do  the  solemn  burial  rites  for  the  host  of  the  dead 
who  had  fallen.  So  for  a  short  time  there  was  peace, 
never  far  from  war,  spreading  abroad  a  calm  that 
was  pregnant  with  strife. 


35 


AIONTSIAKnN  TPIAKOSTON 
EBAOMON 

avhpdaLV  d6Xo<t>6pois  inirvfiPioi  tiatv  dy^ytf. 
*Qs  OL  ^€v  <l>tX6T7jri,  p^fjLr)X6r€9  cfi^poi^y  *lvhol, 

Ba^XetTyV   dv€fJLOUIW   €7TLrp€^VT€S    *V.tnMjj, 

oyLfiaoLV  aKXavTOiOiv  €TapxvcravTO  Baydvraf, 

ola  piov  ppoT€ov  ycu^ia  Stofxa  fftvyoiTa^ 

i/jvxrj^  7T€fi7roii€vrjg,  odiv  rjXvOt,  KVKXdBi  (T€ipi§  0 

vvGGav  €9  dpx^Lirjv'  arparir)  8*  d/z TiaucTO  H6jc)(pv. 

Kat  (fyiXlrjv  Aiowaos  t^wv  iroXiyLOio  yoAipn^r 
TTpwLog  rjfjLLovovs  Kal  ofii^XvSa^  dvSpa^  intlytav 
dt^aXcrjv  eKeXevaev  dydv  dp^airpo^v  vXrjv, 
6<t>pa  TTVpl  (^Acfctev  dXojXora  v€Kp6v  ^O^^Xryfif.  \Q 

Tibv    fJL€V    €7]V    TTpOKeXivdo^    €010    1TlTV<uS€0^    vXlJf 

Oauvo?  iprjfjLovopAi)  p.€p.€Xr)p.€Vog  rjOdBt  Xd^^jj, 
firjTpos  opcoTiaSos'  ScSai^fxcVo?  o'Sia  ]\.ip§nj^. 
Kal  hpvrofio)  otoi;^86v  irefivcTo  b^vbpa  <n5?)/>^* 
7roAAi7  p,€v  TTTeXeT]  TavirqKe'C  TOfivcro  )(aXtcw,  |f 


o  The   transmigration   of  souls   was   and    is   an 
doctrine  ;  this  was  one  of  the  few  things  about  India  knowB 
to  the  average  Greek. 

^  This  description  imitates  the  bunal  of  Fatrodo&  in  Homer, 
36 


BOOK  XXXVII 

When  the  thirty-seventh  takes  its  turn,  there  are 

contests  about  the  tomb,  the  men  competing 

for  prizes. 

So  the  Indians,  now  sensible  and  busy  with  friend- 
ship, threw  their  Bacchic  war  to  the  winds,  and  buried 
their  dead  with  tearless  eyes,  as  prisoners  now  set  free 
from  the  earthy  chains  of  human  life,  and  the  soul  re- 
turning whence  it  came,  back  to  the  starting-place  in 
the  circling  course.**    So  the  army  of  Bacchos  had  rest. 

"^  When  Dionysos  saw  friendly  calm  instead  of  war, 
early  in  the  morning  he  sent  out  mules  and  their 
attendant  men  to  bring  dry  wood  from  the  mountains, 
that  he  might  burn  with  fire  the  dead  body  of 
Opheltes.^ 

^^  Their  leader  into  the  forest  of  pines  was  Phaunos 
who  was  well  practised  in  the  secrets  of  the  lonely 
thickets  which  he  knew  so  well,  for  he  had  learnt 
about  the  highland  haunts  of  Circe  '^  his  mother.  The 
woodman's  axe  cut  down  the  trees  in  long  rows. 
Many  an  elm  was  felled  by  the  long  edge  of  the  axe, 

n.  xxiii.  The  whole  book  is  quite  minutely  imitated  from 
the  same  model. 

*  Circe  is  mother  of  Latinos  and  Agrios  as  early  as  the 
Hesiodic  poems  ;  here  she  is  the  mother  of  the  Latin  wood- 
fairy. 

37 


NONNOS 

ttoXXt)  8'  wljnT€Tr)Xog  €'n€Knm€  Konroy^  hfiSk, 
Koi  TToXXrj  Terdvvcrro  nlrv^,  teal  cVcVAtro  wciMr^ 
avxf^'^poLS  TTCToXoiGL-  7roXvcm€ptwv  0    ano  ocKOpcur 
T€fivofi€vwv  Kara  Paiov  iyvfivio&rjaav  cpcirvac 
Kal  TLs  * AfJiaSpvdSajv  /i.€Tam<mo^  ^<"'*X*  N''/*^*    ^ 
TrqyaLT)  8*  aKt'x^roj  aTj^ci  fiiyyvro  Kovpjj. 

Kat  TToAu?  €pxofi€vou7iv  opthpo^io^  rHt¥  ayijp, 
ovpcos  olfiov  €xoiv  ircporpoTTov  ^y  8c  i^o^ao* 
vilfi<t>avTJ  TTpopXiJTa  KarrjXvSa  Xo(6v  oSinyr 
TToaal  7ToX\mXav€€aGiV'  €\mX€Kroio  hk  attpijs  Ift 

TTU/cva  7r€pia(f>ly$avT€9  aprjpori  bovpara  Sca/up 
ovp-qcjv  inedrjKav  xmkp  pdxiv  €aavpi€v<jnv  8^ 
TjiJLiovajv  aroi)(qh6v  opiSpofioi  ticrvnfv  owAn 
cnT€pxop.€vaiv ,  koX  vCtra  -noXwIrapAdoiO  Koviff^ 
Gvpofxevcov  KaroTTiaB^  <fnrrwv  tfiapvvtro  ^toprtft.        lO 
Kat  Sarvpot  Kai  Ildvcs-  inoiTTvxfoy,  oil'  o  /i€v  avrair 
uAoTOftoi?    .    .    .   TraXafir^mv 

dfJLoi^icjv  dno  So^poir  .  •  • 
<l>LTpovg  dKafidroLdiv  cAcu^ptJoi^Cff  dyoaroif 
TToaal  <f>LXoaKdp6fioLaLV  €7T€KpoTdXi^ov  ipLiryn' 
Koi  rd  fJL€v  vXov6px)L  x6ovl  Kdrd€Gav,  ^x'^  rtAiaofU  35 
Emo?  ev  SaTTcSoj  (rqfujvaro  rvfipov  *0^€XTn. 

Kat  TToAus"  ca/xos"  €171'  ctc/wtttoAi?'  af*^  ^  rttcpt^ 
'jT€vdaXi7]v  TrXoKajxtha  KaTr)<f>€i  TdfjLV€  aiBruxo' 

dfJi(f>l   Se  fJLLV   GT€vdxOVT€S    i7T€pp€OV  oXXo^   CTT     oAAoi, 

V€Kp6v  diJLOi,paLr)aLv  oXov  gki6wvt€S  tdtipat^.  40 

icat  V€Kvv  €OT€V€  BaK;^o?  dTrCV^T/TOlO  TTpOaatTTOV 
ofMfiaaLV  dKXavTOiGLv,  dKcpGiKOfiov  &€  icafn^»*ov 
nXoxp-ov  €va  T/xrjfa?  cVc^TJ^caro  hwpov  'O^c^tw. 
IlotT^CTav  §6  TTVprjv  iKarofiTTebov  €v6a  Koi  hSa 
*I8atot  depdnovres  opiTp€<f>€os  Aiovuorou*  40 

€v  Se  TTU/JiJ  /LtcaciTTj  GTOp^Gov  v€Kvv.     dfufn,  5c  wcp^ 
38 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  16-46 

many  an  oak  with  leaves  waving  high  struck  down 
with  a  crash,  many  a  pine  lay  all  along,  many  a  fir 
stooped  its  dry  needles  ;  as  the  trees  were  felled  far 
and  wide,  little  by  little  the  rocks  were  bared.  So 
many  a  Hamadryad  Nymph  sought  another  home, 
and  swiftly  joined  the  unfamiliar  maids  of  the 
brooks. 

22  Parties  coming  up  would  often  meet,  men  on 
the  hills  traversing  different  mountain-paths.  One 
saw  them  up  aloft,  out  in  front,  coming  down, 
crossing  over,  with  feet  wandering  in  all  directions. 
The  sticks  were  packed  in  bundles  with  ropes  well 
twisted  and  fastened  tight  and  trim,  and  laid  on  the 
mules'  backs  ;  the  animals  set  out  in  hnes,  and  the 
hooves  rang  on  the  mountain-paths  as  they  hurried 
along,  the  surface  of  the  sandy  dust  was  burdened 
by  heavy  logs  dragged  behind.  Satyrs  and  Pans 
were  busy  ;  some  cut  wood  with  axes, . . .  some  pulled 
it  from  tree  after  tree  with  their  hands,  ...  or  Hfted 
trunks  with  untiring  arms  and  rattled  over  the  rocks 
with  dancing  feet.  All  this  woodmen  laid  out  upon 
the  earth,  where  Euios  had  marked  a  place  on  the 
ground  for  the  tomb  of  Opheltes. 

^"^  There  was  a  great  swarm  of  men  from  different 
cities.  Over  the  body  they  cut  the  tress  of  mourning 
with  the  steel  of  sadness.  Groaning  for  him,  they 
streamed  one  after  another,  and  covered  the  whole 
body  with  their  hair  each  in  his  turn.  Bacchos 
lamented  the  dead  with  umnournful  face  and  tearless 
eyes,  and  cutting  one  lock  from  his  uncropt  head  he 
laid  it  upon  Opheltes  as  his  gift. 

^  The  Idaian  servants  of  mountainbred  Dionysos 
built  the  pyre  a  hundred  feet  this  way  and  that  way, 
and  on  the  middle  of  the  pyre  they  laid  out  the  body. 

39 


NONNOS 

'AoT€/)ios  AiKToios  imjopov  dop  ^pvaaaf 
*IvSovs  Kvav€ov9  SvoKaCStKa  8€ipoTo/i»J<m? 
OrJKcv  dyojv  aT€(l>avr)S6v  iiraamntpui  T»vi  K^Ofi^p* 
iv  8*  irlOcL  /xeAtTO?  *fat  dXtlifMTOf  afi^dop4jaf.       90 
Kal  noXees  a<l>dl,ovro  j3o€y  koI  nw€a  noifiyfft 
Trpoadc  TTVprjs'  Krap.€Vijjv  hk  fiowv  iirtvrfvtt  ¥€Kp^ 
aojjxaTa  KVKXiodcvra  koI  dpriTopLotv  (rrixfii  lwww¥, 
wv  aTTo  brjfiov  aTTama  Aa/3a>v  <rroi;fiy&oi'  iK^OTOV, 
dfuftl  v€KW  aropeaa^,  KVKXwaaro  niova  ^rofijv.        45 

'Ev^a  TTvpo^  XP*o^  ccTKc*  ^iXooKoitiXoio  5^  J^Iptcifi 
^avvos  iprjfjLovofjLO^,  Tvporjv&o^  doroy  dpoCpff^, 
cu?  Trdt?  dypoTcprjs^  8€BaTjfi€vo^  ^Py^  T€icoifcn|ff, 
TTVpaoroKovs  Xdiyya^,  6p€id&o9  opyava  T/yyity» 
rjyaycv  €k  GKontXoto,  Kal,  oTmoSi  cnj/xara  N^iin^    60 
fjcpodev  7TL7rrovT€^  l-mcrruHJavTO  Ktpawoi, 
Aet«/faya  deancalov  Twpos  i/yaycv,  a>9  *fcv  ipdi^ 
wpKaCrjv  (f)dip.€Vou)'  AiopX-qrw  8c  ^cctai 
dp,<j>orepo)v  €.\pLa€  Xidiov  K€V€wt^g  dXtu/taf 

TTVpOOTOKiOV    Kol    AcTTTOV    *EtpvBpaLOlO    KOpVflfioV  66 

Kdp<f>os  dno^vaas  SiSvpidovi  p,iyw€  ntrpof 
rpipojv  8*  €vda  koI  €vda  koX  dpotvi  ^Aw  dpdaatMfV 
€yKpv<f>ov  avToX6x€VTov  dv€ipv€  Xaty€Ov  trvp, 
nvpKa'Cfj  8*  V7T€67)K€V,  oTTT)  WAcv  dypids  vXrj, 

Ov    8c    TWprjV    <f>6Lp.€VOV 

TTipihthpopev  dirropLtvum  nvp,  TO 
aXXd  dco^  Oac^ovTos"  cvavriov  oppa  rovucToas* 
dyxi(t>0Lvr)S  eKdXcaaev  *Ea>tov  E^pov  d-qTTjv, 
TJvpKatrjs  CTTiKovpov  dyeiv  dvriirvoov  avprjv. 
Kal  Bpoplov  KoXeovTog  *Ea>cr^pos  €kXv€  yeirwr 

•  Nonnos  seems  to  confuse  the  striking  tofrethcr  of 
with  the  rubbing  or  twirling  of  a  hardwcHKl  ("  niak  ") 
in  a  groove  or  hole  in  one  of  soft  wood  ('*  female  *'). 
40 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  47-74 

Asterios  of  Dicte  drew  the  sword  that  hung  by  his 
side,  and  cut  the  throats  of  twelve  swarthy  Indians 
over  the  body,  then  brought  and  laid  them  in  a  close 
orderly  circle  around  it.  There  also  he  placed  jars  of 
honey  and  oil.  Many  oxen  and  sheep  of  the  flock 
were  butchered  in  front  of  the  pyre  ;  he  heaped  the 
bodies  of  the  slain  cattle  round  the  body,  together 
with  rows  of  newly  slaughtered  horses,  taking  from 
each  of  them  in  turn  all  the  fat  which  he  laid  like 
a  rich  girdle  all  round  the  body. 

^  Now  fire  was  wanted.  So  Phaunos  the  son  of 
rock-loving  Circe,  the  frequenter  of  the  \vilderness, 
who  dwelt  in  the  Tyrsenian  land,  who  had  learnt  as 
a  boy  the  works  of  his  wild  mother,  brought  from 
a  rock  the  firebreeding  stones  which  are  tools  of  the 
mountain  lore  ;  and  from  a  place  where  thunderbolts 
falling  from  heaven  had  left  trusty  signs  of  \ictory,  he 
brought  the  relics  of  the  divine  fire  to  kindle  the 
pyre  of  the  dead.  With  the  sulphur  of  the  divine  bolt 
he  smeared  and  anointed  the  hollows  of  the  two  fire- 
breeding  stones.  Then  he  scraped  off  a  light  dry 
sprig  of  Erythraian  growth  and  put  it  between  the 
two  stones  ;  he  rubbed  them  to  and  fro,  and  thus 
striking  the  male  against  the  female,  he  drew  forth 
the  fire  hidden  in  the  stone  to  a  spontaneous  birth,** 
and  applied  it  to  the  pyre  where  the  wood  from 
the  forest  lay. 

™  But  the  fire  kindled  would  not  run  round  the  dead 
man's  pyre  ;  so  the  god  came  near,  and  fixing  his  eye 
on  Phaethon,^  called  upon  Euros  the  eastern  wind  to 
bring  him  a  breeze  to  blow  on  his  pyre  and  help.  As 
Bromios  called,  the  Morning  Star  hard  by  heard  his 

"  Looking  straight  at  the  sun,  which  apparently  was  just 
rising  or  risen. 

41 


NONNOS 

iKeoLTjs,  Koi  yvwrov  iov  'nporqKt  Avaltp,  H 

dadfiari  nvKvordpw  ^oyo€  i5ca  nvpaov  ovtlirrciv. 

Kat  OdXafiov  poSocvra  Xinwv  firjTpoHOV  *\\o09 
TTVpKaCrjv  <f>Xoy6€aaav  dv€ppi7ri^€v  d-qTrj^ 
Trdinnjxos,  aWvoawv  dv€fioTp€^s  oAAo/ioor  wOp* 
Kal  adXas  rjKovri^ov  cV  4</>a  BvtdS€9  aSpai,  tO 

y€iTov€$-  'HcAtoio.     aw  dyyv^Uvi^  h4  Ava^ 
*AGT€pLos  AtKratb?,  ofioyvtov  atfia  KOfui/u», 
KvivaoLov  dpL<f>LKV7r€XXov  €xa}v  b^na^  i^of  otmMt 
cvobfiov,  haTTcboio  xy^^  €fi€$vaa€  Kovirjv, 
ijwx^v  riv€fjL6<t>oLTOv  * Apicnop&ao  y^paipcav,  8f 

*AAA*  OT€  St)  hpoa€poXo  TTpodyytXos  dpfiaro^  *\\oOf 
opdpo^  €p€vBi6wv  dfiapvaG€ro  yvtcra  x<xf>doow¥t 
hr]  t6t€  TravTC?  opovaav,  dfioiPauv  &€  KtmiXXt^ 
TTVpKa'Crjv  irdpoio  KaT€ap€Gav  ucfidSi  Ba#rxov. 
Kat  jSaAiai?  TTTCpvycaaiv  c^aJfTo  6€pfi6^  dyjrrjf        fO 
€1?  hojxov  *HcAtoto  <f>a€a(f>6pov,  *A<rrtpio^  S< 
oarca  cruXXc^ag  K€KaXvp.p.€i'a  hiTrXajci  ^fJLw 
els  XP^^^V^  <l>idXrjv  KaTedrjKaro  Xfu/tava  vtKpoO, 
Koi  TpoxoiXol  KopvpavT€S,  CTTci  Aa;^oi'  Miov  "Ihvff,  m 
v€Kp6v  irapxyaavro,  fjLLrjg  oiK-qropa  ndrprf^,  M 

KprJTTjs  yvriaiov  af/xa,  ^advvopidvwv  hi  Btp.€BXujv      9597 
TUfi^ov  iropvcjoavro  TreboaKatfKos  hid  koXttov 
Kal  KOVLV  odvelrjv  TTVfidrrjv  enex^vav  *O^Xrjj, 
/cat  rd<t>ov  aiTrvripoiaiv  dvearriaavTo  hofiaioif, 
TOLOV  eTTLypdipavres  €7ros  veotrevdii  ru/xjJoj*  loQ 

*'  v€Kp6s  *Ap€GTopLhr]s  fJLLWcjpios  €v6dh€  Kelroi, 
Kvcuaatos",  *lvho<l>6vos, 

BpofjLLov  awdedXos,  'O^Anyy/* 

Kat  deos  dfiTTcXoeLs  iTnTvp.^ia  Swpa  KOfii^utr 
42 


97« 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  75-103 

appeal,  and  sent  his  brother  "  to  Lyaios,  to  make  the 
pyre  burn  up  by  his  brisker  breath. 

^^  The  Wind  left  the  rosy  chamber  of  Dawn  his 
mother,  and  fanned  the  blazing  pyre  all  night  ^  long, 
stirring  up  the  windfed  leaping  fire  ;  the  wild  breezes, 
neighbours  of  the  sun,  shot  the  gleams  into  the  air. 
Along  with  sorrowing  Lyaios,  Asterios  of  Dicte  who 
was  one  of  his  kindred,  holding  a  twohandled  cup  of 
sweet  fragrant  wine,  made  the  dust  of  the  earth 
drunken  in  honour  of  the  soul  of  Arestor's  son  now 
carried  on  the  wind. 

®^  But  when  morning,  the  harbinger  of  Dawn's 
dewy  car,  scored  the  night  with  his  ruddy  gleams, 
then  all  awoke,  and  quenched  their  comrade's  pyre 
with  cups  of  Bacchos's  juice  in  turn.  Then  the  hot 
wind  returned  on  quick  pinions  to  the  lightbringing 
mansion  of  Helios.  Asterios  collected  the  bones,  and 
wrapping  them  in  folded  fat  laid  the  relics  of  the  dead 
in  a  golden  urn.  Then  the  whirling  Cory  bants,  since 
their  lot  was  cast  in  the  haunts  of  Ida,  gave  burial 
to  the  body  as  an  inhabitant  of  one  country,  a  true- 
born  son  of  Crete,  and  digging  the  foundations  deep 
they  made  his  round  tomb  in  a  hollow  dug  in  the 
earth,  and  last  of  all  they  poured  foreign  dust  over 
Opheltes.  They  built  up  his  barrow  with  taller 
stones,  and  engraved  these  Unes  on  this  monument 
of  their  recent  sorrow  :  "  Here  lies  Arestor's  son  who 
untimely  died  :  Cnossian,  Indianslayer,  comrade  of 
Bromios,  Opheltes." 

^^^  Then  the  god  of  the  vine  brought  the  funeral 

"  Euros  ;  presumably  both  are  children  of  Astraios,  cf.  vi. 
18,  40.     No  earlier  author  has  this  genealogy. 

^  Taken  over  from  Hom.  Ih  xxiii.  217,  but  there  it  is  in 
place,  here  Nonnos  has  just  implied  that  it  was  early  morning. 

43 


NONNOS 

avToOi  Xaop  €pVK€,  koX  r{ov*v  t^pifv  a/uM, 
repfxa  hpofxov  rcXtaa^  iimrfXarov'  €¥  oovwy  M      ■• 
opyviris  laoficTpo^  €'nv  XW09  €^pit  fUrptf^, 
rjfiiTOfiov  kvkXolo  <^pwv  rvnov,  €uc6i¥a  ui^rfft, 
dvTLTVTTois  Xay6i'€aaiv  €v(oof,  oJov  iS^OMir 
ifyyoTTovois  TroAa/xTyai  ytputv  ropvwatiTO  TfJCTWr* 
ivdcov  aaKTJaai  iroOtwv  fipira^'  6v  r6r€  yoim  IM 

Kov<f)Lt,u)v  TraXdpLrjGi  niXujp  vbpvaaro  KiMMOi^ 
vvaarjs  Xa'Cvcq^  avrlppoTTov,  toov  iictli^ 

dvTLTTOpOV   XldoV   oXXoV   O/iOJ^V/OF   ^  X^^   •^Jf**' 


TTOLKiXa  8*  tJcv  d€dXa, 

dpyvpos,  *lvSd  pL€TaXXa,  /3o«f,   [\aMru»Xu>f  2Ai^.        IM 

Kat  dcog  Irnnjeaaiv  dtBXui  Si^aro  vunjt* 
TTpwTLo  fiev  Oiro  ro^ov  ^ApLa^ovlriv  Tf  ^ap4rfnff 
KOI  odKos  tJ/xitcAcotov  * Aprjuf>iXriv  tc  ytiMiaro, 
rqv  TTOTc  (depfjLwboirroi  vn*  d^vai  nt^oi  ^5<uair 
Xovofievrjv  C,coypT]G€f  Kal  ijyovcv  ctV  woAw  *Ii*5(tfr*    UO 
h^xnipix)  LTTTTov  €9r)K€  Boociodi  avvSpofioy  avpfjn, 
^avdo(f>vrjf  hoXixfjai  KaraaKiov  ai);(ri^  ;(airaif, 
T^/itTcAc?  /a»€oucrav  crt  Pp€<f>os»  ^s  cri  ^prut 
LTT7TLOV  oyKov  €;^oucra  yov^ff  ot&uWro  yaanuf 
Koi  TpLTdra)  Owp-qKa,  Kal  daniBa  Srjtct  TrrapTy     Mi 
Tov  fi€v  dpiGTonovos  Tcxyqaaro  Avpyto^  g/f/iwr 
daKijaag  XP^^^V  Stt^ciA/xari,  rijy  o*  m  fi4aaif» 
6p,<f>aX6s  dpyvpdip  rpoxocis  ttoikiAActo  KOOfup' 
TTc/LtTTTOj  Soict  T(iAa;^a,  y€f)a9  ncurroiAi^o?  ^X^V' 
opdojOcls  8*  dyopcuev  €7n(rTT€pxu)v  iXarijpa^'  UO 

**  *(^  <l>lXoLt  ovs  €8t8a^€»/  'A/nyy  TroXlnopSov  *E»ik«», 
of?  hp6p.ov  LTTTToavvr^s  ScopTyaaro  Kva>*o;fain;$>, 
ou  /X€v  cyco  KafidrcDv  dSarjfiovas  dvBpa^  itrtiyw, 
dXXd  TTovoL^  PpiapoLGiv  iO-qpxiva^'  ijfurcpoi  yap 
TravTrotat?  dp€Tij<n  /xe/XT^Aorc?  €iai  puoLXtrai'  Ui 

44 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  104-135 

prizes.  He  kept  the  people  there,  and  marked  out  a 
wide  space  for  games  with  the  goal  for  a  chariot-race. 
There  was  on  the  ground  a  stone  of  a  fathom's  mdth, 
rounded  into  a  half-circle,  like  the  moon,  well 
smoothed  on  its  two  sides,  such  as  an  old  craftsman 
has  fashioned  and  rounded  with  industrious  hands 
wishing  to  make  the  statue  of  a  god.  A  giant  Cyclops 
Ufted  this  in  his  hands  and  set  it  in  the  earth  for  a 
stone  turning-post,  and  fixed  another  like  it  at  the 
opposite  end.  There  were  various  prizes,  cauldron, 
tripod,  shields,  horses,  silver,  Indian  jewels,  cattle, 
Pactolian  silt." 

11^  The  god  offered  prizes  of  victory  for  the  chariot- 
eers. For  the  first,  a  bow  and  Amazonian  quiver,  a 
demilune  buckler,  and  one  of  those  warlike  women, 
whom  once  as  he  walked  on  the  banks  of  Thermodon 
he  had  taken  while  bathing  and  brought  to  the  Indian 
city.  For  the  second,  a  bay  mare  swift  as  the  north 
wind,  with  long  mane  overshadowing  her  neck,  still  in 
foal  and  gone  half  her  time  and  her  belly  swollen 
with  the  burden  her  mate  had  begotten.  For  the 
third,  a  corselet,  and  a  shield  for  the  fourth.  This 
was  a  masterpiece  made  on  the  Lemnian  anvil  ^  and 
adorned  with  gold  patterns ;  the  round  boss  in  the 
middle  was  wrought  with  silver  ornaments.  For  the 
fifth,  two  ingots,  treasure  from  the  banks  of  Pactolos. 
Then  he  stood  up  and  encouraged  the  drivers  ; 

131  "  My  friends,  whom  Ares  has  taught  citystorm- 
ing  war,  to  whom  Seabluehair  has  given  the  racer's 
horsemanship  !  You  whom  I  urge  are  men  not  un- 
acquainted with  hardship,  but  used  to  heavy  toils ; 
for  our  warriors  hold  dear  all  sorts  of  manly  prowess. 

"  i.e.  gold. 
*  Therefore  presumably  by  Hephaistos. 

45 


NONNOS 

el  yap  dno  TfiwXoio  ytvos  Aa)f€  AfSSiOf  ^njjp* 
iTTTTCirjg  TcAcerct  FlcAoTnytSo^  dfia  I'Ufiyf 
€t  §6  TTihov  WiaaXov  c^ct  /xaiT^K  iinrotfr 
"HAiSo?  €vhi<l>poio  KoX  OlvouAoiO  noXirriq, 
olhev  *0Xvfi7TidSos  Koriiff^pov  o^ov  iXtuiff 
oAA'  ovK  Olvofidoio  rrcAci  hpo^to^,  owe  iXar^ptS 
ivddSe  K€VTpov  €xovai  K<uco(tivwv  VfMvalotif, 
oAA'  dp€Tng  hpofios  0VT09,  iXtvOtpo^  adfoytv^ltif' 
€1  rrehov^    Aovi-qg  rj  ^wKi&os  atfia  KOfuift, 
TIvOlov  *A7T6XXcovt  r€Tifi€vov  oJh€v  dywva' 
€i  ficderrct,  ao<f>6v  o^a^  tXakOKo^ov  SXapaBimott 
eyvo)  nLaXerjs  iyKvitova  KoXftiv  iiparif 
el  neXev  evioBivos    Axai&o^  daro^  dpo^fnfff 
IleXXijvrjv  heBdrjKev,  ottt)  piyr^Xov  dywva 
dvhp€S  dedXcvovai  <f>iXoxXaiyov  irepi  yucrff, 
X€t.pL€plcp  G(f)iyyom€s  ddaAnea  yvia  vtrw^f 
el  vaeTTjg  pXdanjGev  dXi^ioi^io  KopivOov, 
"la^/xtov  TjiierepOLO  WaXaifxavo^  o25cv  aycuHt." 

"Q?  <f>ap,evov  arrevBovreg  eirirpexov  i^^un^(, 
hi^pa  TTepirpoxdiiivres  dfioipabU'  wmmd&rw  hi, 
BtOvdoV  dyOJV  TTpOiTKTTOS  VTTO  ^XT/d  htjafv  *tf>€x/^vf 

*  So  Mss. :  ax*i6»  I^wtcfa. 


«  In  this  passage,  Nonnos  takes  occasion  to 
his  knowledge  of  the  ni\-tholc>g7  of  aUilrtkr  < 
Dionysos's  men  include  Lytlians;  but  IV1o|m  (l^Xl) 
of  Tantalos  the  Lydian,  so'  they  may  take  example  from  kit 
defeat  of  Oinomaos  {c/.  xix.  152).  But  this  b  ooe  of  tbt 
many  mythical  origins  of  the  games  at  OlympU,  lo  U  Umj 
come  from  Pisa  (the  nearest  town  to  the  predncl  of  " 
where  the  games  were  held)  that   may  eooouragc  H 

especially  as  this  is  to  be  a  clean  and  fair  contest,  with 

tricks  such  as  Pelops  played  for  the  sake  of  hb  Um  of 
Hippodameia  (141-143;  the  Foambom  is  Aphrodite).  Or 
46 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  136-156 

If  one  is  of  Lydian  birth  from  Tmolos,  he  will  do  deeds 
worthy  of  the  victorious  racing  of  Pelops.  If  one 
comes  from  the  land  of  Pisa,  nurse  of  horses,  a  man  of 
Elis  with  its  fine  chariots,  a  countryman  of  Oinomaos, 
he  knows  the  sprigs  of  Olympian  wild  olive  :  but  this 
is  not  the  race  of  Oinomaos,  our  drivers  here  have  not 
the  goad  of  a  marriage  fatal  to  strangers — this  is  a 
race  for  honour  and  free  from  the  Foamborn.  If  one 
has  the  land  of  Aonia  or  the  blood  of  Phocis,  he  knows 
the  Pythian  contest  honoured  by  Apollo.  If  he  holds 
Marathon,  rich  in  olives,  the  home  of  artists,  he  knows 
those  j  ars  teeming  with  rich  j  nice.  If  one  is  a  habitant 
of  the  fruitful  land  of  Achaia,  he  has  learnt  of  Pellene, 
where  men  wage  a  shivery  contest  for  the  welcome 
prize  of  a  woollen  cloak,  a  coat  to  huddle  up  their  cold 
limbs  in  winter.  If  he  has  grown  up  to  live  in  sea- 
girdled  Corinth,  he  knows  the  Isthmian  contest  of  our 
Palaimon."" 

^^  He  spoke,  and  the  leaders  came  hastening  up 
and  ran  round  each  to  his  chariot.  First  Erechtheus 
brought    his    horse    Bayard    under    the    yoke,    and 

if  they  are  from  the  regions  near  Delphi  (144),  they  are 
neighbours  of  the  Pythian  Games  (that  these  were  not 
founded  till  centuries  later  does  not  seem  to  trouble  Nonnos). 
If  they  are  from  the  Isthmus  of  Corinth  (152-153)  they  are  to 
remember  that  the  Games  there  are  in  honour  of  Palaimon 
(c/.  ix.  90).  Apparently  a  chronological  scruple  prevents  him 
naming  the  Nemean  Games,  said  to  have  been  founded  by 
the  Seven  champions  on  their  way  to  Thebes.  Of  the  minor 
Games,  the  prizes  for  which  were  not  wreaths  but  objects  of 
value,  he  mentions  (146)  the  (Heracleia  at)  Marathon,  but 
obviously  confuses  them  with  the  Panathenaia,  for  the 
Marathonian  prizes  were  silver  goblets  (schol.  Pind.  01.  xiii. 
110),  oil  being  the  prize  of  the  Panathenaia.  In  148-149  the 
allusion  is  to  the  Hermaia  at  Pellene  in  Achaia,  where  the 
prize  was  a  woollen  cloak.  Probably  he  had  his  information 
from  Pindar  and  his  scholiast. 

47 


NONNOS 

apcreva,  kol  BrjXcLav  cVca^YJ^ccuac  no5((p«np, 
ovs  Boperjs  €(m€Lp€v  €U7rr€pvyafv  M  Xditrpom 
Tiidovirjv  "ApTTViav  dcAAoTrof  ciy  ya^ui¥  tXtcwv, 
Kai  a<f>€ag,  *Qp€idviai'  oO*  rjpTraatv  *Ar$SUi  rfi§i^^fff^,  160 
ojTTaaev  ehvov  €pwTos  *Ep€x04i  yafifip6t  Jtijfnft, 
hevrepos  ^AKralcjv  *lafi'qviBa  iroAAcv  IftAtMoifir 
Kai  Tpiros  vypofifhomro^  dnoimopof  iwoatyolom 
TiKcXfiLS  €7]v  raxvncjXo^,  09  €ypa^  tro^Xisng  A«|p 
TTOLTpLov  ISvvwv  Woaihtiiov  opfjui  0ciA<(ovi|f.  161 

TCTparo?  dvdop€  Oavj-oy,  09  €»V  fidaw  ^jkBklf  iyAfOS 
fjLovvos  €x<Jiv  rvnov  laov  eiji  Y€v4ruo  rtxaiSofif, 
'HcAtou  fiLp.rjp4i  iJKpwv  rtrpdCvyaf  Iwwmrf 
Kai  ^LKcXwv  ox^oiv  €n€PrjaaTo  wdfinroe  *Ajjrfnyf, 
olarpov  €xix}v  Wiaalov  €Xcuot<6fiov  mna^UHOt  1^ 

Imroavvr^s  aKopryro^,  cVct  ntSov  <^iC€€  VfSft/^Uff 
*AX<f>€iov  hvaepcjTo^,  o?  ciV  *Apt$ovaa^  Ufiin 
appoxov  ehvov  €poyro9  aywv  aT€^ayrf^6ptm  0«M* 

Kai  dpaavv  *AKTaLiova  Xafiwy  aircCwv^Ify  ifclWiK 
TratSt  7rar7)p  oTrcuSoin-i  ^Aov9  tnrriXXtro  fivBovf*    175 

"  TcKvov  ^ApLoraioio  TTtpiaaovooiO  rotdior, 
otha  /LtcV,  oTTt  <f>€p€i,s  oBcvos  aptciov,  om  ntiiiTjmt 
avji(f>VTov  Tjvoper)  KCKipaofifvov  avOtfun^  Vtf» 
TTCtTptoy  atfia  <t>€pwv  Ooi/StJiop,  rnUrtpai  hk 
Kp€Loaov€9  dlaaovaiv  cVi  bpofwv  *ApKa&€f  Iwrnn-    l» 

T> "  S^'  i'',  ^^^ '    Oreithyia  was  d«u|rhtcr  of  EwchUwi—  (or 
Pandion)  king  of  Athens.  «^««««  iw 

*  Theban.  from  the  river  Ismenos  (properly  MlimiMMl 
near  Ihebes.  '     *      '  ^^ 

\  The  genealogy  is  Helios-C'ircc-Faunas  r/.  xmvIL  IS. 

-  Ihe  story  of  how  Alphdos,  the  river  of  Elk.  loved 
Arethusa,  the  fountain  of  Syracuse  (amoac  otbiwpUoBi), 
48 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  157-180 

fastened  in  his  mare  Swiftfoot ;  both  sired  by  North- 
wind  Boreas  in  winged  couphng  when  he  dragged  a 
stormfoot  Sithonian  Harpy  to  himself,  and  the  Wind 
gave  them  as  loveprice  to  his  goodfather  Erechtheus 
when  he  stole  Attic  Oreithyia  for  his  bride.** 

162  Second,  Actaion  swung  his  Ismenian  ^  lash. 
Third  was  speedyfoal  Scelmis,  offspring  of  Earthshaker 
lord  of  the  wet,  who  often  cut  the  water  of  the  sea 
driving  the  car  of  his  father  Poseidon.  Fourth 
Phaunos  leapt  up,  who  came  into  the  assembly  alone 
bearing  the  semblance  of  his  mother's  father,*'  with 
four  horses  under  his  yoke  like  Helios  ;  and  fifth 
Achates  mounted  his  Sicilian  chariot,  one  insatiable 
for  horsemanship,  full  of  the  passion  which  belongs 
to  the  river  that  feeds  the  olivetrees  of  Pisa.  For 
he  lived  in  the  land  of  the  nymph  loved  by  hapless 
Alpheios,  who  brings  to  Arethusa  as  a  gift  of  love 
his  garlanded  waters  untainted  by  the  brine. <* 

17*  Bold  Actaion  was  led  away  from  the  crowd  by 
his  father,  who  addressed  these  loving  injunctions  to 
his  eager  son  : 

176  "  My  son,  your  father  Aristaios  has  more  ex- 
perience than  you.  I  know  you  have  strength 
enough,  that  in  you  the  bloom  of  youth  is  joined  with 
courage  ;  for  you  have  in  you  the  blood  of  Apollo  my 
father,  and  our  Arcadian  mares  are  stronger  than  any 

and  consequently  his  waters  flow  under  the  sea  without 
mingling  with  the  salt  water,  to  join  hers,  is  told  a  hundred 
times  in  ancient  authors,  e.g.,  in  Strabo  vi.  2.  4.  The 
epithet  orc^aviy^opov  probably  means  that  if  a  garland  is 
thrown  into  Alpheios  it  will  reappear  in  Arethusa  ;  elsewhere 
it  is  a  silver  cup,  or  dirt  of  some  kind,  or  generally  anjrthing 
that  may  be  thrown  into  the  river  which  gives  this  proof  of 
the  story.  But  it  may  simply  refer  to  the  garlands  given  as 
prizes  at  Olympia. 

VOL.  Ill  E  49 


NONNOS 

oAAa  fiaTrjv  raSc  Wrra, 

Kal  ov  oBti'o^,  ov  Spo^iof  h 
VLK-fjaai  SeSdaaiv,  oaov  4>p€V€^  r^vxoxno^' 
fjLOVinrjs  KcpSoGVvnr)^  €ntS€V€cu'  iimoawjf  yi^ 

XpT^^i^L    TTLVlfTOLO    haTj^0V09    TIVIOXTJO^. 

oAAa  (TV  TTarpos  aKov€,  koI  Itmia  tctoSia  T^Yir^,    111 
oaaa  "Xfiovw  b€bdrjKa  noXurpona,  koi  oi  Swa(w, 
OTTevSc,  TcVoj,  y€V€Trjpa  rcaiy  dptr^i  ycpo^pcir' 

Kol  8/>0/A09   iTTTTOaVVTjg  /IC^cVfl   kAc'oS",  OOOOV  'EvUci* 

OTTcvSe  Kal  €v  oraStotcrt 

/x€Ta  TTToAcfiouy  fu  ytpoiptim' 
"Apca  VLKrjaa^  irdprjv  vnoSvato  vuaiv,  IfO 

6(f>pa  p,€T    alxfirjTTJpa  Kal  ddXo^pov  at  KoXiaow. 
CO  T€K09,  af  la  pi^ov  ofioyinijToj  ^lovvaui, 
d^ia  Kal  ^oipoio  Kal  €vnaXdfioto  Kvp^vfi^f 
Kal  KajJidrovs  viKyjaov  *Api(rraioio  roK^of' 
Imrocrvvrjv  8*  dvd<l>aiv€,  <f>€pwv  T€xyr)fuyva  yOnj¥,       tfl 
KcpSaXerjv  a€o  fJL-fJTLv,  cVft  Kara  fitaaoy  dywvof 
dXXos  dvrjp  dSlhaKTog  d-noomnov  dpfia  frap^Xtcu/^ 
TrAa^erat  €vda  Kal  €vda, 

Kal  duTinopcjv  Spofiof  imrwk 
dcrraros  ov  p,d(myL  jSidfcrcu,  ov^€  ;^ciAu^ 
rreldcraL,  rjvloxos  he  fierdrpoTro^  €ktoBi  yvofnft        |O0 
lA/ccrai,  7j;^t  (^cpoixrir  aTrci^c'c?  dpnayt^  irnnH* 

OS   be    K€   T€Xl^€in-L    hoXci)   p.€fl€X-qfl€VOS   €irj 

rjvLoxos  TToXvfirjTis ,  cxcov  Kol  iXdaaovas  iimxnK, 
WvvcL,  npoKeXevdov  OTnTreviov  iXarrjpa, 
iyyvs  del  nepl  vvaoav  dyojv  Spofiov, 

dpfia  3<  «rafiirrct      305 
iTTTrevcov  ircpi  repfia  Kal  ov  ttotc  rcp/ia  yapdaaijav, 
GK€7TT€6  fJLOL  Kal  a<f>iyy€  KvpepvrjTTJpi  ;^ciAi»'ai 
8o;^ct>CTas"  6X0V  LTTTTov  dpicrrepov  iyyvdi  vvaoff^, 
50 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  181-208 

for  the  race.  But  all  this  is  in  vain,  neither  strength 
nor  running  horses  know  how  to  win,  as  much  as  the 
driver's  brains.  Cunning,  only  cunning  you  want ; 
for  horseracing  needs  a  smart  clever  man  to  drive. 

185  "  Then  listen  to  your  father,  and  I  will  teach 
you  too  all  the  tricks  of  the  horsy  art  which  time  has 
taught  me,  and  they  are  many  and  various.  Do  your 
best,  my  boy,  to  honour  your  father  by  your  successes. 
Horseracing  brings  as  great  a  repute  as  war  ;  do  your 
best  to  honour  me  on  the  racecourse  as  well  as  the 
battlefield.  You  have  won  a  victory  in  war,  now  win 
another,  that  I  may  call  you  prizewinner  as  well  as 
spearman.  My  dear  boy,  do  something  worthy  of 
Dionysos  your  kinsman,  worthy  both  of  Phoibos  and 
of  skilful  Cyrene,  and  outdo  the  labours  of  your 
father  Aristaios.  Show  your  horsemastery,  win  your 
event  like  an  artist,  by  your  own  sharp  wits ;  for  with- 
out instruction  one  pulls  the  car  off  the  course  in 
the  middle  of  a  race,  it  wanders  all  over  the  place,  and 
the  obstinate  horses  in  their  unsteady  progress  are 
not  driven  by  the  whip  or  obedient  to  the  bit,  the 
driver  as  he  turns  back  misses  the  post,"  he  loses 
control,  the  horses  run  away  and  carry  him  back 
where  they  will.  But  one  who  is  a  master  of  arts 
and  tricks,  the  driver  with  his  wits  about  him,  even 
with  inferior  horses,  keeps  straight  and  watches  the 
man  in  front,  keeps  a  course  ever  close  to  the  post, 
wheels  his  car  round  without  ever  scratching  the 
mark.  Keep  your  eyes  open,  please,  and  tighten  the 
guiding  rein  swinging  the  whole  near  horse  about 
and  just  clearing  the  post,  throwing  your  weight 

"  Not  the  goal,  but  the  mark  at  the  end  of  the  track  where 
the  cars  were  to  turn  ;  it  was  a  point  of  horsemanship  to 
come  as  near  as  possible  without  actually  hitting  it. 

51 


NONNOS 

Aofo?  €7TL  nXevpfjoi  TrapajcXtSov  dpfia  PapAmm, 
d'yxi'<t>0LV7)?  dipavoTos  dyayKouf)  rwi  fUrpt^  tlO 

GOV  hpofiov  Wvvwv,  n€<f>vXayfUvo^f  dxpi  ^iamin 
7rX'qp,vrj  eXiaaoficvov  aeOcv  dpfiaTt>i  ofa  vtp  curpov 
T€/3/xaT09  drrrofievrj  rpo vctSct  yciTow  tcvtfXuf 
dXXd  XiOov  7T€<t>vXa^o,  firj  d(ovi  I'vaaav  apafat 
elv  ivl  hrjX-qaaio  Kal  dpyuara  kcu  atStv  twmavt.        SI6 
Kal  Tcov  €vda  Kal  €v6a  Kara  hpofiov  dpfui  vop4vot¥ 
eaao  Kvpcpvrjrr)  navofiouos'  dfL4>6r€pO¥  W, 
Kevrpo)  €7TL<nT€px<Jiiv,  7rpox€wv  TrA»/f4inroK  air<iAi|r« 
Sc^Lov  liTTTov  iXavvCt  OoorTfpov  ciV  Sp6fia¥  iXxi^i^ 
oBXi^ios  fi€d€7rovTa  TToptifUva  tcvKXa  )(aXu^'  SO 

eaao   KvPepm^rrj  navofiouo^  dpfia  voft€Wju¥ 
€19  hpopov  WvKcXevdov,  cVct  Tc^viJ/iow  povXj 
TrrjbdXiov  hi<f>poio  ntXti  voos  rjvioxiiof.** 

"Qs  cIttcjv  TToXivopoo^  €\dl^€rOt  tratba  hihafat 
'qddSo^  iTTTToavvrjs  irepOTpona  K€pS<a  T4)[inrf^,  ftt 

Kat  Kvv€7}s  €VToad€V  fdrjfiovo^  oAAcK  €n*  dXXtp 
TV<f)X7]v  x^^P^  TLTaive  <f>vXaaaofA€voio  npoaofmVt 
KXrjpov  €X€iv  idcXwv  €T€pdTpo7Tov,  otd  rii  ovnp 
€tV  Kvpov  dXXonpoaaXXov  €Kr)P6Xa  SaxrvXa  iraAActfr. 
Kal  Xdxov  r)VLoxrJ€s  d/xoij3a5iy  lirrrofuurfff  8i  90 

^avvo9  dciboficvrjg  ^aidoyriBo^  atfia  vcW^Aiyr 
KXrjpo)  npcjTog  €rjv,  Kal  b€VT€pos  ii€v  Axdrtft, 
TO)  8*  cVt  ^ap.vap^vrjo<s  d^XiJKOs, 

dpLffn.  h*  dp*  airtp 
iXXax^v  *AKTaux)V'  6  8c  <f>€praro^  ctV  hp6po¥  iarfi 
varariov  KXrjpOLO  rvx(Jtiv  nXrj^nnTo^  *K^;^cvr.         2V 

Kat  ^oeas"  pidariyas  €Kov<f>iaav  ^vto)m€f, 
lardfJievoL  aroLx^^ov  dp.oi.^alwv  eirl  hippuf¥, 
Kal  aKOTTos  AlaKOS  rj€v  iTTfrvpLO^,  oi^po,  voifooc 
KapL7TTOfi€vovs  7T€pl  T€pfia  <f>iXoaT€<f»avovs  iXaT^poii 
52 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  209-239 

sideways  to  make  the  car  tilt,  guide  your  course 
by  needful  measure,  watch  until  as  your  car  turns 
the  hub  of  the  wheel  seems  almost  to  touch  the 
surface  of  the  mark  with  the  near-circling  wheel. 
Come  very  near  without  touching ;  but  take  care  of 
the  stone,  or  you  may  strike  the  post  with  the  axle 
against  the  turning-post  and  wreck  both  horses  and 
car  together.  As  you  guide  your  team  this  way  and 
that  way  on  the  course,  act  like  a  steersman  ;  ply  the 
prick,  scold  and  threaten  the  whip  without  sparing, 
press  the  off  horse,  lift  him  to  a  spurt,  slacken  the 
hold  of  the  bit  and  don't  let  it  irk  him.  Manage 
your  car  like  a  good  steersman  ;  guide  your  car  on  a 
straight  course,  for  the  driver's  mind  is  like  a  car's 
rudder  if  he  drives  with  his  head." 

^^  With  this  advice,  he  turned  away  and  retired, 
having  taught  his  son  the  various  tricks  of  his  trade 
as  a  horseman,  which  he  knew  so  well  himself. 

226  One  after  another  as  usual  each  put  a  blind  hand 
into  the  helmet,"  turning  away  his  face,  and  hoping 
to  get  the  uncertain  lot  in  his  favour,  as  one  who 
shakes  his  fingers  for  a  throw  of  the  doubtful  dice  far 
from  him.  So  the  leaders  in  turn  took  their  lots. 
Horsemad  Phaunos,  offspring  of  the  famous  blood  of 
Phaethon,  was  first  by  lot,  and  Achates  was  second, 
next  came  the  brother  of  Damnamenes,^  and  next 
to  him  Actaion ;  but  the  best  racer  of  all  got  the 
last  lot,  horsewhipper  Erechtheus. 

236  Then  the  drivers  lifted  their  leather  whips,  and 
stood  in  a  row  each  in  his  chariot.  The  umpire  was 
honest  Aiacos  ;  his  duty  was  to  view  the  crown-eager 
drivers  turning  the  post,  and  to  watch  with  unerring 

"  They  drew  lots  to  see  which  should  drive  nearest  the 
inside  of  the  track.  **  Scelmis. 

53 


NONNOS 

fidprv^  dXrjd€tr)g  IrtpoOpoa  y^Uia  Xvoj), 
o/x/xaaiv  d7rXav€€aai  btajcpii'iov  bpofiov  iimtiir. 

Total  fi€v  €K  paXpibo^  €Tjv  bpofioi'  iaoviUvoi¥  M 
OS  y.€v  €T)v  TTpoKeXcvOos »  6  &€  npoSiovra  in^f^ooi 

ayxt-<l>oLyvs  fJL€V€aiv€v  6iTiaT€pov  rjviox^' 
Kai  TLs  €vl  arahlois  cAan^p  tXaTfjpa  tci)(noas 
ap/xart  hi<f)pov  c/xifc,  koX  rivia  X'P*''  rivaaauiv 
LTnrovs  ayKvXoSovTi  SuTrrotijac  ^^oAa^* 
aAAo9  €7rataaovTi  GwiyLiropos  rivtoyi)^ 
eh  €piv  am<f>ripi(rTOv  laopponov  cfYC  nop€irfv, 
SoxfJ'i'OS  oKXd^wv,  r€rawapL€vos »  op06^  ayaytq;, 
l^vi  KafnrroficvTjf  Kal  eKovaiov  iTmov  ^Xav¥tMt¥, 
<f>€LBofjL€vr)  TToXdfir)  TexyrjfjLovi  P<u6v  ifidaaw¥, 
€VTpo7raXi,i^ofi€in]s  hoyjuoaaro  kvkXov  onu/irrjf' 
hi<l>pov  OTnadoTTopov  7T€<f>vXayfi€vos  rfvioxnof 
Kal  vv  K€v  diaaovTt,  irohiov  eniPrfropi  troAiAfp 
€19  Tpoxov  avTOKvXL(jTov  oyvf  u)Xla6av€v  iwwt 
€1  firj  iri.  OTTevBovaav  irjv  dv€Ko^€V  ipwi^ 
"qvloxos,  KaTOTTiadcv  cVrJAuSa  buf>pov  €pvKutv, 
Kai  ris  €X(*iv  npoKcXcvdos  oniarfpov  "qyioxrja 
dvTiTxmov  hpoyLov  elx^v  o/xo JijAoji'  cVi  hl^kputv, 
doTaros  €v6a  Kal  ivda  7T€piKX€itov  fXarrjpa 
dyxt'<l>avi] .     Kal  S/fcA/iiy,  dnooTTopos  ewootyawv, 
clvaXlrjv  [idoTLya  HoaeiBdtovos  IXlaautv 
ndrpLov  TjVLox^ve  OaXaaaovofjuov  y^vos  limoiv 
ovhk  roaov  tt€tt6t7]to  ravvTrrepos  "^^pa  r^pjvtjjv 
Uriyaaos  viliLTTOTrjTog ,  oaov  PvBuvv  Tro&cy  iimur¥ 
Xepaairjv  aKlxrjTov  cVoiTjcravro  nop€iT)v. 

Aaol  8*  els  €V  l6vT€s,  €v  inhiXo^HMj  Ttvi  vcopco 
eCfOiievoL  otolxtjoov  OTnirevrr^pes  ayojvos, 
TTjXodev  ioKOTrla^ov  iTTeiyofxevcov  Spofiov  iwiretfr* 
54 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  240-271 

eyes  how  the  horses  ran.  He  was  the  witness  of 
truth,  to  settle  quarrels  and  differences. 

2*2  The  race  started  from  the  barrier.  Off  they 
went — one  leading  in  the  course,  one  trying  to  catch 
him  as  he  raced  in  front,  another  chasing-  the  one 
between,  and  the  last  ran  close  to  the  latter  of 
these  two  and  strove  to  graze  his  chariot.  As  they 
got  farther  on  driver  caught  driver  and  ran  car 
against  car,  then  shaking  the  reins  forced  off  the 
horses  with  the  jagged  bit.  Another  neck  and  neck 
with  a  speeding  rival  ran  level  in  the  doubtful  race, 
now  crouching  sideways,  now  stretching  himself, 
now  upright  when  he  could  not  help  it,  with  bent 
hips  urging  the  willing  horse,  just  a  touch  of  the 
master's  hand  and  a  light  flick  of  the  whip.  Again 
and  again  he  would  turn  and  look  back  for  fear  of  the 
car  of  the  driver  coming  on  behind :  or  as  he  made 
speed,  the  horse's  hoof  in  the  spring  of  his  prancing 
feet  would  be  slipping  into  a  somersault,  had  not  the 
driver  checked  his  still  hurrying  pace  and  so  held 
back  the  car  which  pressed  him  behind.  Again,  one 
in  front  with  another  driver  following  behind  would 
change  his  course  to  counter  the  rival  car,  moving 
from  side  to  side  uncertainly  so  as  to  bar  the  way  to 
the  other  who  pressed  him  close.  And  Scelmis, 
offspring  of  the  Earthshaker,  swung  Poseidon's  sea- 
whip  and  drove  his  father's  team  bred  in  the  sea ; 
not  Pegasos  flying  on  high  so  quickly  cut  the  air 
on  his  long  wings,  as  the  feet  of  the  seabred  horses 
covered  their  course  on  land  unapproachable. 

26^  The  people  collected  together  sat  in  rows 
on   a  high  hill,  to  see  the  race,  and  watched  from 

55 


NONNOS 

SaKTuXov  aKpov  €G€L€v  €7rurrrtpxtov  iXaTSjfiOt 
dXXo9  dfiiXXrjTTJpi  TToOw  h<hovTniivo^  Iwrnttm 
iTTTrofiavfj  voov  clx^v  ofioSpofiov  rivtoxfiof  fW 

/cat  Ti?  €ov  7rpoK€X€vSov  iSajv  8pOfW¥  y^ioy^Of 
Xepalv  €7rc7rAaTay7;a£  #ccu  laxt  ntvBoii  4cfrj 
dapcrvvojVf  yeXowv,  rpofi^wv,  tXaTrjpi  ircAf^ctfr. 

'Apfiara  8*  €imolrjra  Ooturtpa  Bvioiot  fytCTOV 
oAAore  p,€v  7r€Tr6njro  p,€rdpaiat  wfj  5'  iwi  yoig         tl0 
dKpo<t>avTJ  7r€<f>6prjTo  pLoyi^  ijtavovTa  9eo¥aff 
Kal  rax^vw  (/ra/xada>5c9  cSo?  rpovotthdi  taStcXip 
dpfiaro^  Wxmopoio  Kar€ypa^€v  oAxof  oAi}nK' 
avfi<f>€pTr)  8*  cpty  ^cv  €y€ipofi4yri  3^  loU  iivn^ 
arrjdeaw  LTnTcloLmv  dvrfwprfro  Kovtri,  SIf 

XcttTOA  8*  TjcpL-paiv  €TT€ppaK)vro  dv^XXai^' 
OTprjpol  8*  (XaT7Jp€S  ofioyXofoaufV  dno  XaifUa^ 
o^trrepTjv  fidcmyo^  dTreppoiphrjaav  larqv. 

*AAA*  oT€  Srj  nvparov  tcAcoi'  Spofiov, 

d(^  SpoAfOig 
S/ccA/xt?  €7]v  TTpamoTOs  dXibpofiov  dpfia  nra^^wr*    ttO 
/cat  ot  ofiaprqaas  cVc/xaariev  tTrrroi'  'Kpc^^ciW 
d'yxi'<f>cLvrjs,  /cat  hi(t>pov  oTnoBo-nopov  rdxa.  ^abft 
clvaXlov  TcXxLVOs  Ibelv  €7npi^Topa  hitftpuiv 
/cat  yap  depaiTTOTTjTos  *Ep€;(^€oy  iTrTro?  dyi^Kop 
8t;(^a8toj  fivKTTJpi  naXlp-TTvoov  daSfia  riTCUVvuy  tt6 

dXXoTpLov  depjiaLve  /X€Td(f>p€VOV  'qvioxrjos, 
Kal  vv  Kcv  avx^vLcuv  ihpd^aro  X^^*  KOfidwv, 
ivTpoTTaXit,oii€VOLs  pX€<f>dpoi9  iXarrjpa  8o/ccu(oi', 
/cat  vu  /c€  G€LOfjL€VU)v  Tpo^aAi^  arpo<f>dXiyyi  y^vtlujv  29Q 
acfypLocjv  araTos  lttttos  aTTCTrruev  a/cpa  x<^i*^<^»         909 
oAAa  TTaparpeipas  dveaelpaac  huf>pov  *E.p€xO€V9,        300 
Tjyta  8    €V7roLr)ra  Karicnraaev  dpnayi  naXfLw,  y^i 

56 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  272-301 

a  distance  the  course  of  the  galloping  horses.  One 
stood  anxious,  another  shook  a  finger  and  beckoned 
to  a  driver  to  hurry.  Another  possessed  with  the 
fever  of  horses'  rivalry,  felt  a  mad  heart  galloping 
along  with  his  favourite  driver ;  another  who  saw 
a  man  running  ahead  of  his  favourite,  clapt  his 
hands  and  shouted  in  melancholy  tones,  cheering 
on,  laughing,  trembling,  warning  the  driver. 

2'^^  The  fine  chariots,  faster  than  the  furious 
Bear,*  now  flew  high  aloft,  now  skimmed  the  earth 
scarcely  touching  the  surface  of  dust.  The  track 
of  the  car  dashing  straight  on  with  quick  circling 
wheel  scratched  the  sandy  soil  as  it  passed.  Then 
there  was  a  confused  struggle;  the  dust  also  was 
stirred  and  rose  to  the  horses'  chests,  their  manes 
shook  in  the  airy  breezes,  the  busy  drivers  shouted 
all  with  one  voice  together  louder  than  their  crack- 
ing whips. 

289  Now  they  were  on  the  last  lap.  Scelmis  with 
a  swift  leap  was  first  of  all  pressing  on  his  seachariot. 
Erechtheus  was  close  upon  him  whipping  up  his 
team,  and  you  might  almost  say  you  saw  the  second 
car  ready  to  climb  aboard  the  car  of  the  maritime 
Telchis  ;  for  the  spirited  stallion  of  Erechtheus  was 
up  in  the  air,  panting  and  snorting  with  both  nostrils, 
so  as  to  warm  the  back  of  the  other  charioteer.  The 
eyes  of  Scelmis  were  turned  back  again  and  again 
on  the  other  driver,  and  he  might  have  pulled 
Erechtheus'  horse  by  the  mane,  and  the  foaming 
stallion  might  have  shaken  his  jaw  with  a  quick  jerk 
and  spat  out  the  bit ;  but  Erechtheus  checked  the  car, 
and  turned  it  to  one  side  with  a  vigorous  pull  at  the 

"  Moving  faster  than  Ursa  Maior,  otherwise  the  Waggon 
(a/ia^a),  travels  around  the  pole. 

57 


NONNOS 

dyxi^(l>o-yrj  Kara  ^aiov  €7na(f>iyy<jjv  y4vw  »^»<J»«'*  *• 
/cat  ttoXlv  eyyvs  cAaaac  ^irywv  a^o^vov  araytai^,  IM 
Kal  fiLV  €OL9  6\€€aai,v  inataaovra  6oK€Viit¥  38i 

E/ccA/xt?  d7T€LXrjTcipay  diT€ppoiphir^€V  uttrw' 

"  Arjyc  OaXaaaaioiai  fidrrjv  imroiaw  ioi(fittr 
aXXov  ifiov  yivtrao  WtXcnji  irort  bi^pO¥  cAovra^ 
OtVo/Ltaou  v'LKT]G€V  dvLtcyTiov  Spofiov  timcav, 
iTTTToavvrj^  fi€V  cycoyc  KvP€pvr]rrjpa  KoXiaaw  810 

l-nTTLov  vypoyLihovra-  av  &€,  trAiJfimrc,  T»Taa«f»f 
VU079  iXTTiSa  ndoav  cV  laTaTcAfiav    A^ki/k. 
oi5  Sc  Tcrjs  oXiyrjs  p.opirjq  XP^*^^»  oAAa  KOfu^ut 
dfiTTcXocv  aT€(fos  oAAo  #ca4  ovK  cAa^ctav  iXcuff¥. 

*Qj  (l>ap,€vov 

raxvpovXog  Ixoioaro  fidXXov  *FIpcx^rur,      JW 
Kal  SoAoi'  T}7r€po7n7a  fcal  Cfx^pova  /x^4V  v^aimav 
;(€/KTt  /A€v  T^i'tox*^**'  *°*'  ^poyMv,  €v  icptihiji  hi 
ImroavvT^g  ttoXiovxov  €T)v  iniKovpov  *AOrfinjif 
kikX^gkcdv  Taxvp-vdov  dirqpirytv  'Ar^iSa  ^ainjr* 

"  Koipavc  KcKpoTTi-qs,  iTmoaacK  IIoAAaf  a^rfTiM>p,  330 
ws"  <7V   rioCTCtSaajwa  reoi  vucqaa^  ayaiw, 
oi?To>  aos"  vacTTjg  MapaOutviov  Jmrov  iXtumtm 
vUa  viKTJacLe  TloacLBdcovo^  'Epcv^cw." 

Totoy  CTTO?  Pooiov  €7T€fid<m€v  laxui  'nujXut¥, 
dpfiaTL  8*  dpfxa  ireXaaacv  lao^vyov  dmifilov  hi      t% 
Xaifj  fjicv  Papvhea^ov  liria^iyywv  ytvw  lmrut¥, 
avvSpo^ov  av  ipvcov  ^€^n)p.€vov  dpfia  ;(aAa^, 
h€^LT€pfj  /xacmjev  cows'  v^avx'^vas  Imrov^ 


*  Pelops  got  from  Poseidon  the  team  with  which  he 
off  Hippodameia,  Find.  O/.  i.  87. 

*  (Mopia^  a  sacred  olive,  esp<-cially  watched  orer  by  Zc«i 
and  Athena,  Soph.  O.C.  705-706. 

*  For  possession  of  Attica,  cf.  xxxvi.  126. 
58 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  302-328 

stout  reins,  wrenching  the  horses*  jaws  slowly  towards 
himself.  Then  again  he  drove  close,  having  escaped 
the  disaster  of  a  horse  without  bit  and  bridle.  And 
Scelmis  when  he  saw  him  making  for  his  car  shouted 
in  threatening  tones — 

^^  "  That  will  do  now !  It's  of  no  use  to  run 
a  match  with  horses  of  the  sea !  Pelops  long  ago 
driving  another  car  of  my  father's"  beat  in  a  race 
the  unconquered  horses  of  Oinomaos.  As  guide  of 
my  horsemanship  I  will  call  on  the  Horse  God  of 
the  deep  :  you,  my  friend  the  horse  flogger,  direct 
all  your  hope  to  Athena  the  Perfect  Webster.  I 
do  not  want  your  paltry  olive  ^  ;  I'll  carry  off  a 
different  garland,  a  vinewreath  and  not  your  trump- 
ery oUve." 

^1^  Erechtheus  was  a  hasty  man,  and  these  words 
of  Scelmis  made  him  angrier  than  before,  and  his 
quick  intelligent  mind  began  at  once  to  weave  plots 
and  plans.  His  hands  went  on  with  his  driving,  but 
in  his  heart  he  uttered  a  quick  prayer  to  Athena  the 
queen  of  his  own  city  in  his  own  country  language, 
to  crave  help  in  his  horsemanship  : 

^2^  "  Lady  of  Cecropia,  horsemistress,  Pallas  un- 
mothered  !  As  thou  didst  conquer  Poseidon  in  thy 
contest,*'  so  may  Erechtheus  thy  subject,  who  drives 
a  horse  of  Marathon,  conquer  Poseidon's  son  !  " 

324  With  this  appeal  he  touched  up  the  flanks  of  his 
colts  and  brought  up  level  car  to  car  and  yoke  to  yoke, 
and  with  his  left  hand  caught  at  the  mouth  of  his 
rival's  horse,  and  pulled  at  the  heavy  grip  of  the 
bit,  forcing  back  by  the  bridle  the  car  running  by 
his  side  ** ;   with  his  right  hand  he  lashed   his  own 

<*  Apparently  a  good  deal  of  fouling  was  tolerated  in 
ancient  racing. 

59 


NONNOS 

iaavfxevovs  Trporcpcjac'  fi€Ta(m^aa^  hi  KtXftvStm 
6rJK€  TToXivStvrjTov  6niar€pov  r^vioxfjia. 
/cat  TpoxaXol^  oroyiaTtaai  xtwv  ^iXoK^profUf¥  ^X*** 
via  tloacLhdwvo^  dfioiPdbi  V€u<€t  ^otyn, 
ivTpoTToXi^ofieinrjv  fjL€d€7TCJV  ycAooKTOv  ommr^* 
"  SfccAfti?,  iviKTjSrj^' 

a€o  if>^pr€p6^  iariv  *Ep€XlMt, 
oTTi,  r€6v  BoAioi',  Z€<j>vp-qCho^  oi/xa  y€v4BXrK, 
dpG€va  Kal  v€ov  Ittttov  oSonropov  dfipoxp¥  aA^i|f 

€t  fJL€v  d'yr]vop€€is  HcXoTTTjCBo^  cit^ica  r^x^nff 
vfiCTcpov  yeverijpo^  dXi^pofiov  dpfia  y€paipui¥, 
MupTtAo?  aloX6fir)TiS  €itikXottov  rjyva€  vucr/v, 
pLLfiTjXu)  TcAcW?  dna'rqXLOv  dfova  Krjpw' 
€t  he  fieya  <t>pov€€is  yci'c^?  X^^*'  €vvoaiyaiov, 
Ittttlov  ov  /coAcci?,  pvduov  inipyropa  hi^puMt, 
TTOvrLov  avrov  dvafcra,  Kvp€pv7jrrjpa  rpiaunffi, 
dpG€va  GOV  VLKTjaev  dprj-yova  BijXv^  *A0ijvn," 

"Hs"  <l>dfjL€vo9  T€A;^t»^  Trapehpafifv  daro^   A^i/ki^. 
Tip  8*  CTTL  Oaui'o?  eXavvev  o^ov  rtOpimrov  i^daawv 
*AKTalcjv  Se  rerapTos  eTrUXonos  i(rn€ro  4>avvif>, 
TTarpos  *ApL(TTaiov  p.€p.v7)pi€vo^  €ia€ri  fivduty 
KcpSaXecov  /cat  Xolados  €7jv  Tvparjvo^  Wxartf^. 

Kat  Opaavs  *AKTaut}v  boXlrfv  c^paaoaro  /SouAnv* 
Oauvov  cots'  ox^ecaLV  crt  irpoOeovra  Ki-)^riaa^ 
o^vrepr]  ixd<myt.  p,€Tacrrp€ipag  SpopLOv  iTmarv 
(Tvvhpopog  rjV(,6x€V€,  TrapaKXcTrrajv  iXaTrjpa, 
^aiov  V7To<t>ddp,€vo9-  Kal  irr*  dvrvyi  yot^Ta  mffa; ; 
hi<f)pov  dp,LXX7jT7Jpa  Kareypa<f>€v  dpfiari  Xo(u», 
LTTireiovs  rpoxdevTi  Slo^vcuv  noSag  oXkcj. 
Kal  SaTTcSoj  7T€G€V  dpp.a-  rLvaaaop-fi-oio  5c  hi^oov 

60 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  329-358 

highnecked  steeds  putting  on  a  spurt.  So  he  took 
the  place  of  Scelmis  on  the  course,  and  made  that 
charioteer  fall  behind.  Then  he  looked  back  with 
a  laughing  countenance  on  the  son  of  Poseidon,  and 
mocked  him  in  his  turn  with  raillery,  the  words  tum- 
bling over  his  shoulder  in  a  stream — 

3^  "  Scelmis,  you're  beaten !  Erechtheus  is  a 
better  man  than  you,  for  my  old  ambling  mare  Swift- 
foot  has  beaten  your  Piebald,  with  Zephyros  for  sire, 
a  horse  too,  and  a  young  one,  and  one  that  can  run 
on  the  sea  without  getting  wet !  If  you  are  so  proud 
of  the  skill  of  Pelops  and  praise  the  seacoursing  car 
of  your  father,  it  was  Myrtilos  °  who  contrived  that 
cheating  victory,  with  his  clever  invention,  when  he 
made  a  wax  model  of  an  axle  to  deceive  his  master. 
If  you  are  haughty  because  of  your  father  Earth- 
shaker,  the  Horse  God  as  you  call  him,  who  rides  in 
the  chariot  of  the  deep,  himself  lord  of  the  sea  and 
master  of  the  trident,  Athena,  a  female,  has  beaten 
your  backer,  the  male  !  " 

346  As  he  said  this,  the  man  of  Athena's  town  ran 
past  the  Telchis.  Next  after  him  came  Phaunos 
flogging  his  fourhorse  team.  Fourth  was  Actaion  the 
cunning  and  artful,  who  had  not  forgotten  his  father's 
good  advice  ;  and  the  last  was  Tyrsenian  Achates. 

3^1  Now  bold  Actaion  thought  of  a  cunning  plan. 
His  car  was  just  behind  Phaunos  and  catching  him  up, 
when  with  a  sharper  cut  of  the  whip,  he  turned  his 
horses  aside  and  drove  them  up  level,  sUpping  by  the 
driver  and  getting  a  little  in  front,  then  pressing  his 
knees  against  the  rail,  he  scraped  the  rival  car  ^nth 
his  own  crossing  car  and  scratched  the  horse's  legs 
with  his  running  wheel.     The  car  was  upset,  and  over 

«  Oinomaos's  charioteer. 

61 


NONNOS 

Tpetg  ^€v  vrrep  SaTTcSoto  trtXov  -ntirrrfortf  It 
og  fi€v  vTT€p  Xayovwv,  6  bt  yaar^po^,  o?  5'  ^iri  ftc^mr,  MO 
els  §€  Ti?  6p66<;  €p,ifiv€  TrapaxXibov,  o/a^  5^  VO^I 
aicpa  TTohcov  pit,wa€,  kox  dforarov  av^^iv  acunr 
au^iryo?  icrrqpi^ev  oXov  7ro5a  yctTtnti?  iinroo, 

ol  fJLCv  caav  7rpoxv6€VT€S  <Vi  )^oi^* 

oiVrroA/of  5^        Mi 
rjvioxos  K€KvXLaro  napa  rpoxov,  dpfjuin  ycmur* 
dpv7TT€To  h*  aKpa  ^€TOJTra,  ftiaiyofUvov  W  ycPfMW 

•qvloxos  8*  di^cTroATO  dourr€po^-  €aavfUvtaf  M 

€4?  x^^^^  7r€7mjcjTi  TTopUrraTO  ytirovt  h(^^,  SID 

alhofieinf  naXdfir)  riravxtayUvov  Imrov  oPtXicwtr 

Kai  j3aAiT7  fidariyi  Karr^a  ttcuAo*'  ifLa0OW¥. 

Kal  dpaavg  *AKrauov  itfTToinj^ixn'  €yyuBi  hi^pom 

^avvov  oTTiTTevajv  (fnXoiraiyp.oxii  pijfaro  ^ta¥^ 

"  Arjyc  p.a.Tr)v  a€KovTa<;  €TTi<m€pxoiv  oiBfW  lmmwH»  Mi 
Arjyc  pidrqv  <f}6dp.€V09  yap  d-rrayy^XXw  Aiorvoify, 
Oawo?  oTt  TTpodiovra^  oAou?  cAarVjpay  iaaof 
vocmjJLos  oifiLKeX^vBos  cAcuacroi  dpfiara  oi^Kur* 

<f>€ih€0    GTJS    p.d(TTLyOS,    €77€l    Tap.€alxpOi    K€VTptp 

Gibv  opoojv  coKTcipa  bcfia^  Kc;^apay/i/vov  iinmir.'*  )M 

"ErvcTTcv  darTjptKTOv  d;(o»'  TTpoKtXtvBov  iXawot^ 
WKvrepr)  /xdorriyt-  /cat  d;^nrro  Oauvo?  cucouco*'. 
/cat  fioyis  iv  SaTrcSoj  AaaiT)?  ScS/xiy/iCvo^  ov/>^ 
/C€/cAt/xeVa>v  cjpdwuc  Sc/xa?  K€KovifjL€i'ov  iimwy, 
Kal  rwa  Auo/xcVoto  Trapat^avra  Xendhvov  Mi 

TTCuAov  aycoi'  iraXivopaov  €7r€a<l)i^KUiO€  ;(aAivai' 
cjrrjo-a?  8*  ev^a  /cat  ev^a  Trap^aavpLtvajv  7ro5a?  tmrcur 
dpfiaros  vipL  p€pr)K€,  /cat  t^vtov  dpfiart  ntffai 
<j>pi,KaXiri  fidcm^€  to  Scirrc/x)!^  tTnrov  ifLdoBXjj' 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  359-389 

the  wreckage  three  of  the  horses  lay  fallen  on  the 
ground,  one  on  the  flank,  one  on  the  belly,  one  on 
the  neck.  But  one  kept  clear  by  a  swerve  and  re~ 
mained  standing,  his  feet  firmly  rooted  on  the  earth, 
shaking  his  trembling  neck ;  he  supported  the  whole 
leg  of  the  horse  yoked  next  to  him,  and  lifting  the 
yokeband  pulled  the  car  up  again.  There  they  were 
in  a  mess  on  the  ground ;  the  driver  rolled  in  the 
dirt  beside  his  wheel,  close  to  the  car,  the  skin  of  his 
forehead  barked,  his  chin  soiled,  his  arm  stretched 
out  in  the  dust  and  the  elbow  torn  by  the  ground. 
The  driver  leapt  up  quickly,  and  in  a  moment  he  was 
standing  beside  his  wrecked  car,  dragging  up  the 
prostrate  horse  with  shamed  hand  and  flogging  the 
discomfited  beast  with  quick  lash.  Bold  Actaion 
watched  Phaunos  in  difficulties  beside  his  car,  and 
made  merry  at  his  plight  : 

375  "  That  will  do  now  !  It's  of  no  use  to  press 
your  unwilling  horses.  That  will  do,  it's  all  of  no 
use  !  I  shall  be  there  first,  and  I  will  inform  Dionysos 
that  Phaunos  will  let  all  the  other  drivers  pass,  and  he 
will  come  in  last  dragging  his  own  car.  Spare  your 
whip.  It  really  makes  me  sorry  to  see  your  poor 
horses  torn  like  that  with  a  fleshcutting  prick  !  " 

3^1  Phaunos  was  furious  to  hear  these  words,  as  the 
speaker  drove  his  team  quickly  on  with  speeding 
whip.  He  pulled  at  the  thick  tails  of  the  horses 
lying  on  the  ground,  and  with  great  difficulty  made 
the  beasts  get  up  from  the  dust.  One  colt  which 
had  struggled  out  of  the  untied  yokestrap  he  brought 
back  again  and  fastened  into  the  bridle. .  He  put  the 
feet  of  the  struggling  horses  into  their  places  on 
both  sides,  and  mounted  the  car,  taking  his  stand 
firmly  in  it,  then  once  more  whipt  up  the  team  with 

63 


NONNOS 

Kal  tt\€OV  iJAaac  OatJw?  eman^pxaf^  hp6fUMf 
d)Kvr€pov  8*  eSlwKe  trapoirtpov  ijito^^* 
Kal  <t>daiJL€vovs  €Kix^a€v,  cVci  fUvof  ififiaXtP  M 
tTTTT'tos'  iwoolyaios  tov  Opaavv  via  y^paiDtmr 
areivojTrrjv  8c  k€X€v6ov  &wv  napa  tcotXaBi  wfrpfH 
€jx<l>pova  firJTiv  v<fxui'€  SoXcmXoKov,  o^pa  mx^^Mf    Wb 
dpfiari  T€xyT^€VTi  Tro/xufcicv  *Ax^Tqv, 
pojyfios  €T)v  PadvKoXiros,  ov  ^(ipfirfft  KtXtiS&QV 
ycifiepl-p  fidoTiyi  Aios  furaydariov  vSijop 
r)€p6d€v  npox^ovTO^'  €€pyop.€V'<o  b<  p€€Bpip 
ofippov  yctoTo^oio  pa-X''^  KOiXaii^tro  yoiiyf ,  400 

-fjxt  fioXajv  atKCJv  av€a€ipaa€  hi4>pov  *A)fanjff, 
^cvyojv  dyxuc^Xevdov  €rrr)Xvai'qv  iXarrjpot' 
Kal  ol  €7r€aavfJL€V<^  rpoyu(pr)v  avcvcucaro  ^Ctfrip* 
"  EtWrt,  vr^TTu  OaiW,  rtol  pvnocjoi  ^^ircuHtf, 
ctadri  acjv  ox^ujv  ipafia0a)S€€s  €iai  Kopwvcu,  tQf 

ov  no)  od>v  iriva^as  OKoopL'qTutv  koviv  Imrwi^' 
Xvfxara  ado  Kddaip€'  ri  ool  toqov  lirnov  iXnuvtw; 
firj  G€  ttoXlv  mTTTOvra  Kal  dcmaipovra  voi^aw. 
Tov^  dpaaifv  *AKraio}va  <f>vXdaG€0,  fin  at  iCijp^OOC 
Tavpelr)  g€0  vdnov  xmoari^tKV  IfidovXrj,  410 

fMY)  G€  TrdXiv  npoKdprqvov  dKOVTi^€i€  Koytjf. 
eLGCTt,  GTJg  /xc^eTTcis"  Kcx^payp^vo,  KVKXa  naptiijf' 
<l>avv€f  ri  fiapyalveiSt  (vvr]ova  fuufiov  dranrctfir 
narpl  IloG€i,bdcovi  Kal  *HcAta>  aco  irdimip; 
afcd  /xoi  ILarvpiov  <f>tXoK€pTOfjLOV  dvBtptwva.  415 

Yi€iXT]vovs  7r€<f>vXa^o  Kal  dpufKiroXov^  Aioruoov, 
p,T]  GOL  CTTeyycXdGWGi  Kal  avaraXcu}  ato  Si^ptp, 
trfj  dpova;  tttj  jSoravai; 

TTTJ  <f>dpfjLaKa  TTOuciXa  KiftKtjf; 
rrdvrd  ac,  Trdvra  XcXoittcv, 

OT*  €iV  hpofiov  i^A^c;  dyw¥Of, 
64 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  390-419 

his  terrible  lash.  Harder  than  ever  Phaunos  drove 
and  urged  on  his  galloping  horses,  quicker  than  ever 
he  pursued  the  driver  in  front  of  him — and  he  caught 
up  the  team  ahead,  for  horsegod  Earthshaker  put 
spirit  into  the  horses  to  honour  his  bold  son.  Then 
seeing  a  narrow  pass  by  a  beetling  cliff,  he  wove  a 
tangled  web  of  deceitful  artifice,  to  catch  Achates 
and  pass  him  by  skilful  driving. 

2^'^  There  was  a  deep  ravine,  which  the  errant  flood 
of  rain  pouring  from  the  sky  had  torn  by  the  side 
of  the  course  under  the  wintry  scourge  of  Zeus  ;  the 
torrent  of  rain  confined  there  had  cut  away  a  strip 
of  earth  and  hollowed  the  ground  so  as  to  form  a 
narrow  ridge.  Achates  when  he  got  there  had 
unwillingly  checked  his  car,  to  avoid  a  collision  with 
the  approaching  driver ;  and  as  Phaunos  galloped 
upon  him,  he  called  out  in  a  trembUng  voice — 

404  "  Your  dress  is  dirty  still,  foolish  Phaunos  !  the 
tips  of  your  harness  are  still  covered  with  sand  !  You 
have  not  yet  dusted  your  untidy  horses  !  Clean  off 
your  dirt  !  What's  the  good  of  all  that  driving  ?  I 
fear  I  may  see  you  tumbling  and  struggling  again ! 
Take  care  of  that  bold  Actaion,  or  he  may  catch  you 
and  flick  your  back  with  his  leather  thong  and  shoot 
you  headlong  into  the  dust  again.  You  still  show 
scratches  on  your  round  cheeks.  Why  do  you  still  rage , 
Phaunos,  bringing  disgrace  alike  on  Poseidon  your 
father  and  Helios  your  gaffer  ?  Pray  have  respect 
for  the  mocking  throat  of  the  Satyrs — beware  of  the 
Seilenoi  and  the  attendants  of  Dionysos,  or  they  may 
laugh  at  your  dirty  car  !  Where  are  your  herbs  and 
your  plants,  where  all  the  drugs  of  Circe  ?  All  have 
left  you,  all,  as  soon  as  you  began  this  race.     Who 

^  Tov  H.  J.  Rose,  aov  Mss.  and  edd. 
VOL.  Ill  F  65 


NONNOS 

tIs  k€v  aTrayyctAciO'  dyijvopi  aclo  rticovan 

Kal  a€0  KVfipaxov  dpfia  Kai  avxfiatovoav  uiooBXffp^;  *' 

Totov  d7r€ppoipSrja€v  dyrjvopa.  fxvSov    Ax^rm, 
K€pToyL€0)V'  Nc'/icais"  hk  roarjv  typnt/taro  ^ci»rnr. 
Kal  Gx^^ov  rjXvde  (t>auvos  o/x^AuOa  hi^pov  iXaJmmr 
ap/xart  3*  dpfia  TrcAaaac,  kcu  dfovi  yd/x^oi^  dpaoowt^ 
ficaaoTrayfj  om'cafc  fiaXujv  Tpoxo€ib4i  KwcXtft' 
Kal  Tpoxos  avroKvXurros  tXif  iirtKitcXiro  yoij^, 
dpp,aaw  Olvop,doto  navtuctXos ,  aimort  tCMtoO 
OaXTTOjievov  4>a€dovTi  XvStis  dnan^Xio^  d(w¥ 
iTTTToavvqv  dv€Konr€  fi€firjv6rK>^  rivtoxfjof' 
OTCLVwTrfjv  §€  KeXcvdov  €xo>v  aw/ufivcv  'Axdrrff, 
claoKc  TCTpaTTopwv  xmtp  dvrvyo^  rjfxfvos  imnu^ 
cjKVTcpr)  fidariyi  'napriXv6€  OatVo9  'A^fcinp', 
ofa  TTcp  ovK  dUxiv  Kal  €Kowf>ia€  fidXXov  l^MiiaBXtiiff 
fiaarl^wv  dKixrjro^  €n€iyofi€vwv  Xo^tov  Irrmwv' 
Kal  TrdXcv  ^AKraUovos  67riaT€po^,  oaaa  Bop6^rat 
Slgkov  7r€inTop.€vou>  ncXci  SoAivoawiOf  opfLif, 
ov  ppLapfj  naXafirj  hov€a}v  ai^rfo^  idXXii. 

Aaots  8*  €fnr€G€  Xvoaa' 

Kal  ijpiaav  dXXo9  iir*  dXXttft, 
avvdealas  t€vxovt€S  drcKfidpTov  ntpl  vucrfs 
iaaofJLCvrjs'  rd  Sc  Sivpa  dvtXXono^cjv  yopcv  iWMr 
rj  TpiiTOs  -qk  Xe^rjs  rj  <j>dayavov  -nk  /Soccii* 
Kal  vacTTjs  vacTTJpt,,  <t>iXo9  8'  ipUHuvtv  muptfi, 
yqpaXios  Sc  yepovri,  V€w  v€os,  dvipt  8*  av^. 
t}v  S*  cpt?  dfjL(t>oT€pwv  €T€p66poos,  oj  fih  * Axc(n|r  < 
KvSalvcoVy  cTcpos  Sk  x^p^lova  ^avvov  iXiyX'"^ 
iv  x^ovl  7T€7m](x)Ta  KvXivSofi€vcjv  and  hi^paty, 
dXXos  €p(,SfjLaLvct)v,  oTi  SevTcpos  -^  *Ep€^fi€Vt 
elvaXiov  TeXxLVos  OTrLaripos  r^vioxrio^' 
oAAoi  8*  aXXos  epi^oVf  art  <l>6afi€vwv  hpoyjw  It 
66 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  420-450 

will  tell  your  proud  mother  the  tale  of  a  tumbling 
chariot  and  a  filthy  whip  ?  " 

*22  Such  were  the  proud  words  that  Achates 
shouted  in  mockery  :  but  Nemesis  recorded  that  big 
speech.  Now  Phaunos  came  close  and  drove  along- 
side. Chariot  struck  chariot,  and  hitting  the  middle 
bolt  with  his  axle  he  broke  it  with  his  rolhng  wheel — 
the  other  wheel  rolled  off  by  itself  and  fell  twisting 
on  the  ground,  as  with  the  chariot  of  Oinomaos,  when 
the  wax  of  the  false  axle  melted  in  Phaethon's  heat 
and  ended  the  horsemanship  of  that  furious  driver. 
Achates  remained  in  the  narrow  way,  while  Phaunos 
in  his  car,  leaning  over  the  rail  of  his  four-in-hand, 
passed  him  with  speeding  whip  as  if  he  did  not 
hear  ;  he  lifted  his  lash  more  than  ever,  flogging  the 
necks  of  the  galloping  horses  beyond  pursuit.  Now 
he  was  next  behind  Actaion,  as  far  as  the  long  throw 
of  a  hurtling  quoit  when  some  stout  lad  casts  it  with 
strong  hand. 

*3^  The  spectators  were  mad  with  excitement,  all 
quarrelhng  and  betting  upon  the  uncertain  victory 
that  was  not  yet.  They  lay  their  wagers  on  the  storm- 
foot  horses — tripod  or  cauldron  or  sword  or  shield  ; 
native  quarrelled  with  native,  friend  with  comrade,  old 
with  old  and  young  with  young,  man  with  man. 
All  took  sides  shouting  in  confusion,  one  praised  up 
Achates,  a  second  would  prove  Phaunos  the  worse, 
for  falling  to  the  ground  from  his  upset  car  ;  another 
maintained  that  Erechtheus  was  second  behind 
Telchis  the  driver  from  the  sea  ;  another  would  have 
it  that  the  resourceful  man  of  Athens  was  visible 

67 


NONNOS 

l,K€Xfiiv  €Tt  -npodlovra  irapatfas  iXarijpa. 
Ov  TTO)  vciKO^  (Xrfyi, 

Kal  i^aotv  iyy^  'EptxMt, 
Ittttovs  €vBa  Kal  €v6a  Karwfia&6¥  aliw  LikMMr* 
Kal  TToXvs  l7nT€ioio  8t*  av^CKK"  fppt€9  tBpAt 
Kol  Xaalov  aripvoio,  koB*  rivtoxoto  hi  wvtaml 
av-xjiripal  paSdfiiyyf^  €n€opiooyTo  teo¥Vfff 
ap/uara  8*  dy;(i7rdpoi<Tiv  €Trfrpt)(€v  lyt^oiy  It 
aXXofievrj  <TTpo<f>aXiyyi'  Koi  ov  rpox^tm 
AcTTToAcT/y  aTivaxra  rivdaacro  vwra  ifOt4m» 
avrap  6  narrqevTa  ficrd  hpofuw  wffO&i  il^ptW 
els  fidaov  "^Xdev  aywvos'  €w  8*  tafirifM  j^trfiM 
fjLvhaXcQjv  iSpwra  biacrrdiovra  ^nUmMi^* 
Koi  rayys  €k  hL<f>poio  icarTjw  firiHtbay^  hi 
€t?  t,vy6v  €V7Toi-qTov  i-qv  tKXutv  ifxdaBXim'  Ml 

LTTTTOVS   S*    *A^l5d/xa9    OtpatrotV   Xv€¥'   *M»t(VTtpOf  hk 

repTTop,€vri  TTaXdp.rj  irpundypia  Kov^un  vismift 
lohoKTTjv  Kal  Tofa  Kol  €V7n)XrjKa  yvtmica, 
TToXXcuv  rjiiiTOfJLoio  fi€a6p.tf>aXa  vuna  /3oc(i|p. 

To)  8*  €7tI  h€VT€pos  i^A^c  BaXaaQoiutv  tin  hl^pum  410 
^KcXfiLs,  iTTiGTTfpxojv  WooLbrjiov  opfui  BaXoooifSf 
kvkXo£  oaov  Tpoxoeis  aTroAfcVeTcu  utKioi  iW9Vf 
rod  /x€v  €TTataaovros  €7naaanpcjv  fJLcytn  oMpai 
iKTaSlrjs  ipavovoiv  iXiaaop€vnffs  '»'f>*y<9  ovpifi' 
Sevrepa  8*  ctAev  deOXa,  Kal  cupcyc  AofiMOfici^  471 

eyKVOV    LTTTTOV    €X€LV,    ^rjXrjfJLOVl   X*f>*    TlTtUVWV, 

Kat  TptTO?  *AKTauoi'  dy€Kov<f>uj€  avuBoXa  vtxtff 
Xpvao(f>a'f]  da)pr)Ka,  TzaifaioXov  €pyov  *OAi;/iirov. 

To)  8'  €771  Oawoj  i/cai-f 

Kai  auToSi  hi^pov  ipvoaas 
6fi<t>aX6v  dpyvpoKVKXov  dv7j€pTa^€  /5o€t7/«^,  4i0 

68 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  451-480 

close  by,  that  his  team  was  in  front  and  he  had  won 
after  passing  Scelmis  the  leading  driver. 

^^  The  quarrel  had  not  ended  when  Erechtheus 
came  in  first,  a  near  thing  !  unceasingly  lashing  his 
horses  right  and  left  dowTi  from  the  shoulder.  Sweat 
ran  in  rivers  over  the  horses'  necks  and  hairy  chests, 
their  driver  was  sprinkled  with  plentiful  dry  spatter- 
ings  of  dust ;  the  car  was  running  hard  on  the  horses' 
footsteps  amid  rising  whirls,  and  the  undisturbed  sur- 
face of  the  light  dust  was  disturbed  by  the  rolling 
tyres.  After  this  flying  race,  he  came  into  their  midst 
in  his  car.  He  wiped  off  with  his  dress  the  sweat  which 
poured  from  his  wet  brow,  and  quickly  got  out  of 
the  car.  He  rested  his  long  whip  against  the  fine 
yoke,  and  his  groom  Amphidamas  unloosed  the 
horses.  Then  quickly  with  happy  hand  he  lifted  the 
first  prize  of  victory,  quiver  and  bow  and  helmeted 
woman,  and  shook  the  flat  half-shield  with  the  boss 
in  the  middle. 

*'^  Scelmis  came  second  in  his  chariot  from  the  sea 
— for  he  drove  Poseidon's  car  from  the  sea,  as  far 
behind  as  the  round  wheel  is  behind  the  running 
horse — as  he  gallops,  the  hairy  tip  of  his  long  waving 
tail  just  touches  the  tyre.  He  took  the  second  prize, 
the  mare  in  foal,  and  gave  her  in  charge  to  Damna- 
menes,  offering  her  with  jealous  hand. 

477  Third  Actaion  lifted  his  token  of  victory,  the 
corselet  shining  ^vith  gold,  the  gorgeous  work  of 
Olympos. 

*^  Next  came  Phaunos,  and  there  checked  his 
car.       He    lifted    the    shield    with    rounded    silver 


NONNOS 

avxfi'rjprj?  fiedcncjv  rri  Xtu^va  «rfu«a  Kari»fg, 

Kal  I.iK€X6s  e€pd7rcjv  Ppa&vSiPiof  iyyM,  SJ^^ov 
Xpvaov  SiGGa  rdXayra  Karrj^i  Sctffv    AjjfOTjy, 
OLKTpov  dyrjvop€oirri  <fHXo<rr6py<fi  ^U)¥VO^, 

Avrap  6  TJvyp.axiT^^  ;(aA€ir^  iarrftnv  ayuiMi* 
TrpwTO}  fi€v  d^ro  ravpov  an*  *Ii«5<^kho  fiowSXa^ 
hcjpov  ay€iv,  irdpcp  hi  pAXapputnv  Kripos    IvoAr 
PdpPapov  aloXoi'wrov  cAa;v  Kar4&fjie€  fio^hff, 
opdojdcis  h*  dy6p€V€v  a€BXrfTrjpa^  ^irciycur, 
€vnaXdfiov  8vo  <f>ana9  tpihfiaivtiy  ircfM  pIki^' 

"  Wvypirjs  ovTo^  ac^Ao;  drtipdot'  dBXo^6p^  U 
dvepi  vifcqaavri  baavrpi\a  ravpov 
dvSpl  Sc  viKrjdcvTi  noXvTrrvxov  aawiha 

^Qs"  <t>ap.€vov  hpofjuoio 

aoKtoTTaXos  u^fno  McAmmmi^, 
•qSdhi  TTiryfiaxirj  fi€p,(Xrjp^vo^'  €VtC€paav  M 
dipdfievog  ravpoio  tootjv  €<f>0€y(aTO  i^4mI¥^' 

EAderoi,  OS  7ro9€€i  adjco^  aioXov  od  yip  idam 
oAAoj  TTLOva  ravpov,  €ws  crt  ;(c^>a9  OMipm," 

"Q?  <j>ap.ivov  ^vpL-navras  ttrto^pnffyxtnn  OMnn)* 
Eupu/xcScoy  8c  oi  oroj  dviararOt  tw  n6p€V  'E^^ 
opyava  7wyfiaxlr)s  yvioAiccoj,  05  irapo;  ouft 
7Tarpa)(x)  ficfieXr^ro  Traprjfievos  €<Txap€<uvi, 
HfpaLOTrjtdbrjg,  G<f>vpijXaTov  dtcfiova  rvnrwv. 
rov  ii€v  ipLTTrolrjTos^  d8cA<^05  dfuf>€ir€V  'AXiCim, 
fa)/xa  Sc  ol  napcOrjKc,  koI  rjpfjLoa€v  ifut  furfn/^, 
Kal  SoXixo.^^  TToXdfirjai  Kaoiyvrfroio  awdirrw¥ 

*  So  MSS. :   cptnTOt'TTor  Ludwich. 

70 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  481-506 

boss,  and  he  still  showed  those  relics  of  the  dirty 
dust. 

*S2  When  Achates  arrived  despondent  beside  his 
slowroUing  car,  a  Sicilian  groom  displayed  two 
ingots  of  gold,  a  consolation  from  his  kind  friend  the 
splendid  Dionysos. 

*^  Next  the  god  put  up  the  boxing,  a  hard  match 
that.  For  the  first  man,  he  offered  a  bull  from  an 
Indian  stall  as  a  prize  ;  for  the  second,  he  put  up  a  bar- 
baric manicoloured  shield  which  had  been  a  treasure 
of  the  blackskin  Indians.  Then  standing  up  he  called 
with  urgent  voice  for  competitors,  inviting  two  men 
to  contend  for  the  prize  of  ready  hands  : 

491  *<  This  is  the  battle  for  hardy  boxers.  The 
victor  in  this  contest  shall  have  a  shaggy  bull,  to 
the  loser  I  will  give  a  shield  with  many  layers  of 
good  hide." 

494  When  Bromios  had  spoken,  shakeshield  Melis- 
seus  stood  up,  one  well  practised  and  famihar  with 
boxing  ;  and  seizing  the  bull's  horn  he  shouted  these 
big  words, 

497  "  This  way  anyone  who  wants  a  painted  shield  ! 
For  I  will  not  let  another  have  the  fat  bull  as  long  as 
I  can  hold  up  my  hands  !  ** 

*^  At  these  words,  silence  sealed  all  lips.  Only 
Eurymedon  rose  to  face  him,  one  to  whom  Hermes 
had  given  the  gear  of  stronglimbed  boxing.  This 
man,  a  son  of  Hephaistos,  had  always  been  used  to 
remain  busy  beside  his  father's  furnace  hammering 
away  at  the  beaten  anvil.  Now  his  brother  Alcon 
attended  him  full  of  excitement,  placed  his  body-belt 
beside  him<*  and  fitted  the  girdle  to  his  loins,  coiled  the 

*  There  is  no  need  to  alter  the  text  to  nepid-qKe,  as  L.  sug- 
gests :  the  word  imitates  Homer,  II.  xxiii.  683,  irapaKd^^aXcv. 

71 


NONN08 

Koi    TTDOULOS    €1?    U.€(JOV    l}A^€V, 

ioOnpofiMira  npoo^ 

aid  8*  arriTTcUoio  ^uAacacro  hvafiavp¥  ^pf^» 

fjLTJ  TTOTc  /ill'  nXi^itu  tear    o^pvof  iji  furmwem, 

rid  fuv  alfia{€i€,  rtrvfifiivw  apBpO¥  dfuSfof, 

rj€  biarfiri^€i€,  Kara  Kpmd^oio  rvxi}oor« 

ciV  /x€ao»'  cyKc^oAoio  I'oij/ioKX  &Kpo¥  ^^6^99 ,  •!» 

^  TToXdfirjv  rpir)\€lav  €m  KponL^oun 

ofJLfiara  yvfiviOQ€u  XinoyXi^voiO 

r)€  ha<t>oiirrJ€VTo^  apaaaofitvoio  y^vtiov 

6^vT€pwv  cAoacK  noXvartxov  cypuo¥ 

(m^deog  aKpov  eXaaatv  6  hi  oyc&W  &rra    , 

;(€rpa  fidrrjv  Iriraivt,  Koi  rjfippOfTtv  ^p^ 

Kal  fiiv  del  rpofxfcjv  irtpihthpo^u,  irtSAvor  d^lptt^t 

he^iTCfyrjv  yvfivolo  Kdrw  fta{oiO  rtrau^air. 

dfKfxjj  8*  ct?  €v  LKai^v  ctttJAwS*?,  aXXof  Ar*  ^My     fiSi 

;(cp(7t  Sc  x^^P^^  €yLi^av'  inaaavrtpjfai  W  ptMoSf 
^pLKTos  ofxoTrXcKecjv  €iT€p6fjLfi€€  SoOiTOf  i|Mlrrair 
dKpordrqv  Trcpt  x^M^*  \apaaiJo^vri^  5<  irapcti|r 
alfMoXeais  Xi^dB^aaiv  c^tvix^i^oov  tfuimt^'  SM 

/cat  y€vviov  neXc  hoOnos'  cVi  Bpcjoyjijt  hi  npoatawoif 
€vpvr€pov  ycyaooToy  iKVfiawovro  iraptuu, 
o^daXpiol  8*  cKdrepOcv  tKoiXauvoyro  nptxnuwoo, 

EvpvfiSwv  /lev  €Kapv€  NIcAuraco^  iS^ioi*  ^^JITO» 
dax^TOi'  iJcAioto  [i€vajv  dvrumiov  aXyXrp^,  m 

o/x/ia  /caTauyaforroy  cVotfay  8c  McAiOVCi^ 

72 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  507-536 

straps  of  dry  leather  neatly  round  his  brother's  long 
hands.  Then  the  champion  advanced  into  the  ring, 
holding  his  left  hand  on  guard  before  his  face  like 
a  natural  shield,  and  the  fleshcutting  straps  of  his 
artificial  hand  did  for  a  wrought  lance.  Always  he 
kept  on  his  defence  before  the  dangerous  attack  of 
his  adversary,  that  he  might  not  get  one  in  upon 
brow  or  forehead,  or  land  on  the  face  and  draw  blood, 
or  smash  his  temple  with  a  lucky  blow,  tearing  a  way 
to  the  very  centre  of  his  busy  brain,  or  with  a  hard 
hook  over  the  temples  tear  the  eyes  out  of  his 
blinded  face,  and  smash  his  bloody  jaw  and  drive  in 
a  long  row  of  his  sharp  teeth.** 

^20  But  now  as  Eurymedon  rushed  him,  Melisseus 
landed  one  high  up  on  the  chest ;  he  countered  with 
a  lead  at  the  face  but  missed — hit  nothing  but  air. 
Shaking  with  excitement,  he  skipt  round  the  man 
past  his  chest  with  a  side-step  and  brought  home 
his  right  on  the  exposed  breast  under  the  nipple. 
Then  they  clinched,  one  against  the  other,  shifting 
a  bit  their  feet  carefully  in  short  steps,  hands  making 
play  against  hands  :  as  the  blows  fell  in  quick  suc- 
cession the  straps  wreathed  about  their  fingers  made 
a  terrible  noise.  Cheeks  were  torn,  drops  of  blood 
stained  the  handstraps,  their  jaws  resounded  under 
the  blows,  the  round  cheeks  swelled  and  spread  on 
the  puffy  face,  the  eyes  of  both  sunk  in  hollows. 

^^  Eurymedon  was  badly  shaken  by  Melisseus  and 
his  artful  dodging.  He  had  to  stand  with  the  sun 
shining  intolerably  in  his  face  and  blinding  his  eyes  ; 
Melisseus  rushed  in,  dancing  about  with  quickened 

"  Nonnos  had  never  seen  any  real  boxing,  and  is  thinking 
of  the  brutal  and  unscientific  Roman  slogging  with  the 
caestus. 

73 


NONNOS 

6(vT€pji  orpo^taXiyYi  furapaiov  iX^^of  aM(p^ 
a^vio  yvaByiov  €nHlf€V  vn*  ovaroi'  aihap  6 
wmos  auT0Kv\ujT09  €p€iaaTo  vuna  teot4g, 
OvfioXiTrfj^  fi€Bvoin'i  tmvtuctXoi'  cfvc  hk  K6fan^ 

K€KXlfl€V7JV   €T€paH7€,    Kol   olfJMTOS   €11X999  dxj^ 

AcTrrd  naxyyofi€yoio'  Xafiofv  h4  /Mr  iifT^ifAm 
arvyvo^  xmtp  vurroio  lurrfyayt  avyyovof  *AAff«ir 
TrXTryfj  dfi€paiv6w  ^p^tfrnyUvov .    iaaviuvof  M 
^Ivvwrjv  7r€pCfi€Tpov  avrjtpra^t  /Socci/v. 

Kcu  SihvfjLovs  ^iiowaos  dtdXrpijpaf  intlyum 
dvbpdaiv  ddXo<f>6poun  ndXr)^  trqpvftv  dyujva' 
Kal  rpiTTos  €lKoaifi€Tpo^  diSXiov  lararo  ¥uaf% 
TTpwTO)  dcdXrfTTJpi'  ridti  5*  ccV  fi4aao¥  atipas 
dvOcfJLoevra  Xi^rp-a  \€p€iovt  ifntrri  ^vXdaow¥, 
dpdwdel^  S*  ld^a€  irdXiv  arjfidm^pi  ^u/vj' 

*'  ^€UT€,  <f>iXoi,  KoX  Tovrov  €y€ipar€  KoXiv  6y£mi." 

npwTos  'ApioTcuos',  /xcT^TTctra  &€  B€vr€pof  iimi 
AuxKos  €V7TaXdfioio  TrdXr)^  h^harjfA^vo^  ^py^* 
^(x)fiaTL  8c  aK€TT6wvr€s  adrjijTOv  ^wnv  €uooOt 
yvp.vol  dcdXevovres  €<f>€<rraaav'  dfLt^ortpoi  Si 
npana  fxkv  dfjufxrrepas  naXdfia^  cVi  Sil^vyi  tcoMr^ 
ovfinXeKov  €vda  Kal  €v6a,  X*^'^  ^^*  vwra  leovvffs 
oAArJAou?  €pvovT€s  dfJLOLpahis,  dfifiari  x^iftum 
OKpordrco  a^ly^avT€<s'  erjv  5*  difjufH&pofiOf  <iri|^» 
dvOpa  TTaXLvBlvrjTov  dywv  erepo^uyt  naXfu^, 
cXkojv  cAko/xcj'os'  T€*  avvo)(p,d^ovTo  yap  qm/^um 
X^polv  dfioi^alrjaiVf  €Kvprijjaavro  hk  5ci/np, 
fjLCGaarUi}  Sc  Kapr^vov  €Tn)p€!hovTo  fimlmt^ 
dKXi,v€€s,  v€VovT€s  €7tI  x^ovos'  €k  &€  fi€nawtim 
dXiPofievojv  KafidroLo  irpodyy^Xos  €pp€€v  !Bpun' 
dfJL(f>OT€pwv  8'  dpa  vcara  /ccicv^OTa  7njx€OS  oXtc^ 
74 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  537-568 

twists  and  turns,  and  popped  in  a  sudden  one  on  the 
jaw  beneath  the  ear ;  and  Eurymedon  being  dis- 
tressed fell  on  his  back  and  rolled  in  the  dust  help- 
less, fainting,  like  a  drunken  man.  He  inclined  his 
head  to  one  side  and  spat  out  a  foam  of  thickish 
blood.  His  brother  Alcon  slung  him  over  his  back 
and  gloomily  carried  him  out  of  the  ring,  stunned 
by  the  blow  and  unconscious,  then  quickly  lifted 
the  great  Indian  shield. 

^^  Next  Dionysos  called  for  a  couple  of  com- 
petitors in  wrestling,  and  announced  the  contest  for 
this  prize.  He  offered  a  tripod  of  twenty  measures 
as  prize  for  the  wanner,  and  brought  out  a  cauldron 
with  flower-ornaments  reserved  for  the  defeated  man. 
Then  he  rose,  and  called  out  with  announcing  voice, 
552  "  This  way,  friends,  for  the  next  fine  contest !  " 
^^  He  spoke,  and  at  the  summons  of  crownloving 
Dionysos,  Aristaios  first  rose,  then  second  Aiacos, 
one  well  schooled  in  the  lore  of  strongarmed  wrest- 
ling. The  athletes  came  forward  naked  but  for  the 
body-belts  that  hid  their  unseen  loins.  They  both  be- 
gan by  grasping  each  the  other's  wrists,  and  wTcathed 
this  way  and  that  way,  and  pulled  each  other  in 
turn  over  the  surface  of  the  widespread  dust,  holding 
the  arms  in  a  close  grip  of  the  fingers.  Between  the 
two  men  it  was  like  ebb  and  flow,  man  drawing  man 
with  evenly  balanced  pulls,  dragging  and  dragged ; 
for  they  hugged  each  other  with  both  arms  and  bent 
the  neck,  and  pressed  head  to  head  on  the  middle  of 
the  forehead,  pushing  steadily  downwards.  Sweat 
ran  from  their  rubbed  foreheads  to  show  the  hard 
struggle ;  the  backs  of  both  were  bent  by  the  pull 

75 


NONNOS 

Stjuyt  avfi7rX€K4o9  TraXdfLrj^  irpifitro  &0|«4^*  "^ 

Gfiwhi^  5*  avTor€X€aros  oWSpoficv  aSftiOfn  #ypiy, 
aioAa  nop<f>vpovGa-  Scfuif  5'  iarilrro  ^ci»n8».  fl* 

Ot  8c  naXaiafjLoauyrjs  mporpana  udyyam  rixmit 
oAATjAots"  dv€<f>aivov  afioipa^is'  ayTtfiu)¥  hi 
np&Tos  ^Apiaralos  TraXafirf^  ir^^^tWro  irt^P^, 

AiaKos  otoAo/xT/Ttj,  wokA^Wopti  5^  T^CPij»  iiP 

Aatoy  *Apujraioio  no^o^  KutXriira  nardfoig 

vjrriov  avTOKvXiorov  oXov  ntpucafifiaXt  yf^t 

rfXLpdra)  irpnqwvi  7rav€uc€Xov'  dfL^  ^  Xaol 

rr)XiKov  ai);^€VTa  fiowkuvov  vUa  ^ktiBodt 

ofjLfiaai  dafiPaXeoujiv  c^iyaovro  moAnu.  Mtt 

8€VT€/x)9  ijcprafc  fitrdpaiov  x^lfoBi  yohtfS 

KOXMf>i^(ov  dfioyrfrl  irtXwpiov  via  Kvfrjtnfs 

AlaKos,  caaofjLorqv  dp€Tfiv  r€Ki€ain  ^uXdEoowr^ 

aKafidra)  llrjXrji  Koi  evpvPif}  TtXafuUm, 

dy/cds"  €xcov,  ov  vwtov  rj  opBiov  av^^^Mi  K^i^tMrttm,   liO 

TTTix^uLv  dfufxyrepoiGi  fjL€aaiTarov  dvBpa  itioyi/{dir» 

laov  diJi€Lp6inr€aaiv  €X(jov  tvttov,  ovs  xdfu  f 4k rum 

npr^vvcov  dvcfioio  9v€XX-^aaav  dyaYtafy. 

/cat  TTcAaCTas-  oXov  dvbpa  rr€piorp<Mt84vra  «tom% 

Ato/cds"  dvTiTrdXoio  pAaiov  €'n€fiTfaaro  yurrwtf  Mf 

/cat  TToSa  7r€7TrafjL€vr]^  hid  ycurrcpo?  curraSa  wiltt^wr, 

KafiTTvXov  dKpordTip  7T€pl  yovvari  hiafia  avvatmm, 

rapaco  rapaov  IpeiSc  Trapd  o^vpov  dxpov  cAifof * 

/cat  Ta;^us"  dvri^iov  rerawofUvos  v^todi  "  ' 

•  The  genealogy  is : 

Endels  =  Aiaoos  =  Psamathe 


Peleus  Telamon     Hiooot. 
76 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  572-599 

of  the  arms,  and  pressed  hard  by  the  two  pairs  of 
twined  hands.  Many  a  weal  ran  up  of  itself  and 
made  a  purple  pattern  with  the  hot  blood,  until  the 
fellows'  bodies  were  marked  with  it. 

^"^^  So  they  showed  each  against  the  other  all  the 
various  tricks  of  the  wrestler's  art.  Then  first 
Aristaios  got  his  arms  round  his  adversary  and  heaved 
him  bodily  from  the  ground.  But  Aiacos  the  crafty 
did  not  forget  his  cunning  skill ;  with  insinuating 
leg  he  gave  a  kick  behind  the  left  knee  of  Aristaios, 
and  rolled  him  over  bodily,  helpless  upon  his  back  on 
the  ground,  for  all  the  world  like  a  falling  cliff.  The 
people  round  about  all  gazed  with  astonished  eyes 
at  the  son  of  Phoibos,  so  grand,  so  proud,  so  famous, 
taking  a  fall !  Next  Aiacos  without  an  effort  lifted 
the  gigantic  son  of  Cyrene  high  above  the  ground, 
to  be  an  example  of  valour  for  his  future  sons,  Peleus 
the  unwearying  and  Telamon  the  mighty  °:  he  held 
the  man  in  his  arms,  bending  neither  back  nor  upright 
neck,  carrying  the  man  with  both  arms  by  the  middle, 
so  that  they  were  like  a  couple  of  cross-rafters  which 
some  carpenter  has  made  to  calm  the  stormy  compul- 
sion of  the  winds. ^  Aiacos  threw  down  the  man  at 
full  length  in  the  dust,  and  got  on  his  adversary's 
back  as  he  lay,  thrust  both  legs  along  under  his  belly 
and  bent  them  in  a  close  clasp  just  below  the  knees, 
pressing  foot  to  foot,  and  encircling  the  ankles ; 
quickly  he  stretched  himself  over  his  adversary's 

*  The  picture  in  Iliad  xxiii.  712,  which  Nonnos  copies,  is 
more  exact :  the  two  wrestlers  stand  on  the  ground,  leaning 
against  each  other,  like  two  rafters  in  a  roof. 

77 


NONNOS 

avx^vL  heafiov  cjSoAAc  ppaxtovt,  b^xrvXa 
^uSoAcoi  8'  IBpwTi.  x^*'  W*"»^  «fowi|r, 
avxp-rjpfj  ipafiddo)  Sitpriv  paSa^uyya  t(a0aipaf¥, 
fiT)  8toAia^7}<7€i€  TTcptVAoKoy  dftfuxTt  xitpAf 
dcpfjL-qv  Tpipofi€voio  Kor   ovx^v^  Ufii&a  wiftmttv, 

Tov  §€  nu^ofUvoio  <Tw4pp€ov  6(4i  naXfi^ 
K€Kpip.cvoi  KrfpvKt^,  o7rc7r«ir7TJp<9  aywvof, 
/XTJ  p.Lv  dTTOKr€lv€i€v  ofto^t/yt  Trqx^of  oA«f«p. 
ov  yap  €T)v  t6t€  O^a^o^  oyjoUos,  8v  tnpof  ^rol 
ot/iiyovoi  <f>pdaGavTo,  riraivofiivcjv  ore  5c<yyutfr 

aVX^vltJJV    TTVlKTTJpl    TTOVW   pfpOpT/JfltVO^   ^*^P 
VLK7JV   aVTlTToXoV   ftl^OTCVCTOi    €fl^pOVt   Ctyjj, 

dvcpa  VLtcrjaavra  Karri^i  X^^  Trarofay.* 

Kat  TpCnov  €lKoaip.€Tpov  hrrjxwayTo  Xafi^rrtf 
Mvpfiihovc^f  dcpdnovTcs  d^BXtx^pov  PaaiXrjof 
*AKTalaiv  §€  Xeprjra  raxiovi  Kov^at  pitrfj, 
Scvrepa  irarpos  dcOXa  Ka-nf<j>4i  X^H^  KoyHunf, 

Kat  TOT€  Bd/c;(09  €&rjK€  iroSwv  raxvrqTO^  dyw^a* 
TTpwTO}  dedXrjTTJpi  Ti^ct?  #cc(fii}Aia  vucrf^ 
dpyvp€OV  KprfTTJpa  SopiKrrirqv  t<  ywduca, 
hevripcp  aloXoh^ipov  idijKaro  Q€aaaX6v  iimo¥, 
Kal  TTVfidro)  ^ixf>os  d^v  avv  cvrfi-qrw  rtXa^utvt, 
opdcodels  8*  dy6p€V€,  nohwKcas  dvSpai  cVccyuir* 
"  *AvhpdGLv  (jjKxmopoLaiv  d€6Xia  raOra  ycWo^.*' 

*i2s    <f>afJL€VOV 

^LKTOLOs  idrjpLova  yovvara  itoXXlju  .  ,  , 
^  So  ]iS9. :  Kc^ai^  I.udwich. 


•  From  a  wrestling  bout  this  has  suddenly 
pancration,  *'  all-in  "   wrestling.     In  true  mU^  oaly 

78 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  600-621 

back  and  wound  his  two  hands  over  each  other 
round  the  neck  like  a  necklace,  interlacing  his 
fingers,  and  so  made  his  arms  a  fetter  for  the  neck. 
Sweat  poured  in  streams  and  soaked  the  dust,  but 
he  wiped  away  the  running  drops  with  dry  sand, 
that  his  adversary  might  not  slip  out  of  his  encircling 
grip  by  the  streams  of  hot  moisture  which  he  sent  out 
of  his  squeezed  neck. 

^02  As  he  lay  in  this  tight  embrace,  the  heralds 
came  running  up  at  full  speed,  men  chosen  to  be  over- 
seers of  the  games,  that  the  victor  might  not  kill  him 
with  those  strangling  arms.  For  there  was  then  no 
such  law  as  in  later  days  their  successors  invented, 
for  the  case  when  a  man  overwhelmed  by  the  suffo- 
cating pain  of  a  noose  round  the  neck  testifies  the 
victory  of  his  adversary  with  significant  silence,  by 
tapping  the  victor  with  submissive  hand.** 

®io  Then  the  Myrmidons  laid  hands  on  the  twenty- 
measure  tripod  as  the  servants  of  the  victorious  prince ; 
and  Actaion  quickly  lifted  the  cauldron,  his  father's 
second  prize,  and  carried  it  away  with  sorro^vful  hand. 

^1*  Then  Bacchos  set  the  contest  of  the  footrace. 
For  the  first  man  he  offered  as  treasures  of  victory  a 
silver  mixing-bowl  and  a  woman  captive  of  the  spear  ; 
for  the  second  he  offered  a  Thessalian  horse  with 
dappled  neck  ;  for  the  last,  a  sharp  sword  with  well- 
wrought  sling-strap.  He  rose  and  made  the  announce- 
ment, calling  for  quickfoot  runners  : 

®20  **  Let  these  be  the  prizes  for  men  who  can  run !  " 

*^  At   these  words,    came    Dictaian    Ocythoos,* 

falls  counted  (in  which  A  throws  B  off  his  feet  while  still 
standing  himself). 

"  The  name  inferred  from  what  follows.  A  line  has 
dropt  out. 

79 


NONNOS 

rco  8*  €m  noiKiXofirjTiS  dit'hpa^itv  wtcvt  '1  ,     , 
IIpuiao9  wKimoSrvs,  Ku/JcAniSoc  <urr^  lyoMlf. 

TOtCT4   fl€V   €K   poXpibo^   C^V   OpOflOf'    *U«UPDOt  M 

ldxrT€vr\  irpoKiX^vOov  €x,wv  Spoftoy  ^iftrvutmi  M 
Scirre/x)?  ay;(iK<Aci;^o^  o'niartpoi  ^€¥  *E^C¥Pm« 
yetToi'09  *i2Kt;^ooio  fi€ranf^p€vov  aad^n  fiOXattf^ 
Koi  K€<l>aXr)v  dcpfiaiif  ^v^AoxditMO  5^  iWijpHf 
ola  Kavwv  aripvoio  xrcAci  fi4a<K,  o¥  Tt»i  |AtT|py 
napBivos  laronoyos  tcx^itJ/xow  x*^'^  Ta«wO||, 
'Qki/^oou  77cAc  roaoov  onurrtpo^-  a/<^  M  y% 

/cat  loi  #c€v  dfuff-qpiaroi  €ti)v  bp6fu>f  dXXa  vopiAp 
liip.r]Xrjv  la6yi€rpov  lhd»v  cVirtuwro  ro^MMp 
Kov^xrrcpw,  koI  ^>arra  rrapthpa^  fi4i^O¥t  §idfp^, 

TOtoi'  €7roy  Poowv  ]iop€rjv  IxtrtxHV  *EiWj(^^' 
**  Tap.Pp€,  r€w  xpaiofirioov  *Ep€X^^ 

€t  fiedencLS  yXvKvv  olarpov 

iprj^  crt  irai5o(  *E^Mt««ir 
3o9  fu>i  Oiov  TTT^pvycjv  PaXiov  hp6^io¥  tU  liisM  4p<Pi 
*0,Kvdoov  Ta-xyyovvov  Iva  TTpodtoita  nQpd}/$m, 
*Q;  <f>afi€vov  Bopeqg  U€'n^<nov  ttcXvt  ^apn{r» 
Kai  fJLLV  ivrpoxaXoio  ra^iova  di)K€v  ddXXift, 

Tp€LS    fJL€V    €7T€pp<OOVTO    TToSdtV    dltfUuSti    IToAfi^t 

oAA*  ovK  laa  ToXairra'  k€u  oTmoam^  cujc€i  rapa^ 

^QkvOoOV    7Tpod€OVTOS    OTTicTTtpO^    ^€V    *E^J(^>(Vr, 

roaaov  deAATJcvroy  ^Y^p^xBtos  err  Aero  ytirotm 
Yipiauos  avxri^is,  ^pvyiov  y€»x>y.     taaviUiftmr  3^ 
oTmore  XoladLos  ^cv  cti  bpofios  aXfLari 
80 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  622-651 

wagging  his  experienced  knees.  Next  ran  up  fleet 
Erechtheus,  a  man  full  of  craft,  and  dear  to  Victorious 
Pallas  ;  after  him  fleetfoot  Priasos,  one  from  the 
arable  land  of  Cybele.  Off  they  went  from  scratch. 
Ocythoos  led,  light  as  the  stormwind  on  his  feet, 
going  straight  ahead  and  keeping  his  lead.  Close 
behind  came  Erechtheus  second  at  full  speed,  with 
his  breath  beating  on  the  back  of  Ocythoos  close 
by,  and  warming  his  head  with  it :  as  near  as  the 
rod  lies  between  the  web  and  the  breast  of  a  girl 
who  loves  the  shuttle,  when  she  holds  it  at  measured 
distance  with  skilful  hand  working  at  the  loom,  so 
much  was  he  behind  Ocythoos,  and  he  trod  in  his 
footmarks  on  the  ground  before  the  dust  could  settle 
in  them.  Then  it  would  have  been  a  dead  heat ; 
but  Ocythoos  saw  this  rival  running  pace  for  pace 
with  himself,  so  he  made  a  spurt  and  ran  past  the 
fellow  by  a  longer  distance,  as  much  as  a  man's  pace. 
Then  Erechtheus  anxious  for  victory  addressed  a 
prayer  to  Boreas  and  cried  out : 

640  "  Goodson,  help  your  own  Erechtheus  and  your 
own  bride,  if  you  still  cherish  a  sweet  passion  for  my 
girl,  your  sweetheart  !  Lend  me  the  speed  of  your 
swift  wings  for  one  hour,  that  I  may  pass  kneequick 
Ocythoos  now  in  front  !  " 

6^  Boreas  heard  his  suppHcating  voice,  and  made 
him  swifter  than  the  rapid  gale.  All  three  were 
moving  their  legs  like  the  wind,  but  the  balance  was 
not  equal  for  all  :  as  far  as  Erechtheus  was  behind 
Ocythoos  running  before  him  with  swift  foot,  so  far 
behind,  near  storms wift  Erechtheus,  was  Priasos  the 
proud  son  of  Phrygia.  So  they  ran  on,  until  just  as 
the  end  of  the  race  was  coming  for  their  bounding 

VOL.  m  G  81 


NOKNOS 

*Q.Kvdoo9  raxvyovvos  iTrojXujBrjot  *foitij, 
rlxi  powv  TTcAev  ovOog  d6€a<f>aTos,  ov9  ira/M  riififi^ 
Mvy$ovlr)  Atowao?  a7rr}Xolrja€  y,axpxfi^' 
oAAd  7TaX(,w6aroio  irohos  raxvSivti  traXfi^  tM 

*Q.Kv6oog  7r€<f>6pr)ro  fjL€rdXfX€voi'  ^aavfiJvwt  hi  tW 
avTiTToXov  TTpoddovTO^  ctttJAuSc  TOpOOV  dfkMifitui^,  •• 
€t  TOT€  jSatoy  €t;v  €Ti  1TOU  hpofiof,  f  "V^X^  fiuhmm  •!• 
^  TTcAev  dfJLffnjpiaros  rj  €<f>Oaa€v  aarov  *A^iJM|r«  tlT 
Kat  KTcpas  aloXovwrov 

€KOV<fna€V    UJKVS    *Epi){^fWf,        ••• 

StSovtov  KpTjTTJpa  r€Tvyfi€vov  *Lh(vBoot  hi 
etpvae  QeoaaXov  imrov'  6  5c  rpiro^  VP^f^*^  fiaumt¥ 
Uplaaos  dop  cSckto  avv  dpyvp€w  rcAofUam. 
/cat  Sarupcov  iydXaaac  x^P^  if>iXonaiYfiovi  9vft^, 
TTaTTTalvcjv  Kopvpavra  X^^  pvndwvra  KO¥ijjt  Ml 

ovdov  dTTOTTTVovra  Kardppvrov  dvBtptwvoi, 

Kat  aoXov  avToxdc^vov  dywv  intOrjKev  ayuiM 
SiGKopoXovs  ^Lowaos  dKom-iorrjpai  €ttttyiMi¥' 
TTpdjTcp  p,kv  hvo  bovpa  avv  ImroKOfiw  rpv^aXtijn 
drJK€v  dyu)v,  ircpcp  he  Suivyea  KVKXd&a  fiirpnjv,      970 
Kal  rpLTdrcp  <t>LdX'qv,  /cat  v€ppiBa  OiJK€  rmififnp, 
^v  XP^^^TI  K^'^hi  Atoj  TTcpoKT/aaro  ^oA^cvf* 
op6(x)dels  S    dvd  fxiaaov  cyepaivooi  ^>dTo  ^ai^* 

"  015x0?  dyojv  inl  hloKov  deBXrjrrjpas  ivtiyti.*' 

"Os  ^a/xcVou  l^pofiioio 

aaKicmoXos  (Lpro  McAioov^,      979 
T<p  8'  cm  Sevrc/K)?  tJA^c^  dcpanrodi]^  '/VAifnf^, 
icai  Tpiros  EivpyficScov  Kal  rerparos  rjXv0€V  'Afftmr- 
Kal  Triavpes  aroixT]h6v  i<f>4araaav  dXXos  itr*  oAAm. 
82 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  652-678 

feet,  kneeswift  Ocythoos  slipt  in  the  dirt,  where 
was  an  infinite  heap  of  dung  from  those  cattle  which 
had  been  slaughtered  by  the  Mygdonian  knife  of 
Dionysos  beside  the  tomb.  But  he  sprang  back- 
wards with  a  quick- whirling  spring  of  his  foot  and 
jumped  back  again,  then  off  he  went — and  he  would 
have  quickly  passed  the  travelling  step  of  his  rival 
running  in  front  if  there  had  been  even  a  little 
space  to  run  :  whereby  he  would  either  have  made 
a  dead  heat  by  a  spurt  or  he  would  have  passed 
the  Athenian. 

^^  Swift  Erechtheus  then  lifted  the  Sidonian  mix- 
ing-bowl, that  treasure  adorned  with  curious  work- 
manship on  the  surface ;  Ocythoos  took  off  the 
Thessalian  horse  ;  Priasos  quietly  walked  in  third, 
and  received  the  sword  with  silver  sling-strap.  The 
company  of  Satyrs  laughed  in  mocking  spirit  when 
they  saw  the  Corybant  smeared  all  over  with  dirt, 
and  spitting  out  the  dung  that  filled  his  throat. 

^®'  Now  Dionysos  brought  out  a  lump  of  crude  ore 
and  laid  it  before  him,  and  summoned  competitors 
to  put  the  weight.  For  the  first,  he  brought  and 
offered  two  spears  and  a  helmet  with  horsehair 
crest ;  for  the  second,  a  brilliant  round  body-girdle  ; 
for  the  third,  a  flat  bowl ;  and  for  the  fourth  a 
fawnskin,  which  the  craftsman  of  Zeus  had  fastened 
with  a  golden  brooch.  Then  he  rose,  and  made  his 
announcement  among  them  in  a  rousing  tone  : 

674  "  xhis  contest  calls  for  competitors  with  the 
weight !  " 

*'^  At  these  words  of  Bromios  up  rose  shakeshield 
Melisseus ;  second  after  him  came  footlifting  Hali- 
medes,  and  third,  Eurymedon,  and  fourth,  Acmon. 
The  four  stood  in  a  row  side  by  side.     Melisseus  took 

83 


NONNOS 

Kol  aoXov  €vblvrjTov  iXwv  €ppulf€  MtXtaatvt* 
^eiXrjvol  8*  eyeXaaaav  oXi^ova  ifxirro^  tpor^y.  •© 

Sevrepos  Evpvfiehajv  TraXafx-qv  i'n€p€iaaro  hioKt^t  .  .  . 
/cat  aoXov  cvblvrjTOV  eXwv  vwpLTfropi  KUfmip 
ppidv  ^eXos  7rpo€r]K€  neplrpoxov  tvXo^of    Aif/uuf 
/cat  peXos  ri€p6(l>OLTOV  €7r(Tp€X^  aviSpOfWif  avpaif, 
/cat  GKOTTov  EvpvfieSovTog  v7T€pPaX€  u€iiovt  lUrpfjf  •• 
o^€Lrj  (rrpo^aXiyyi'  koX  vd/nroSrjs  *AAi/xn&iyj 

els   GKOTTOV   TjKOVTL^eV   €V   r)€pl   blGKOV   oAlTTiyV 

/cat  aoXos  rjcplrjaLV  encppol^rjaev  dcAAcu; 
€K  ppiaprjs  7TaXap.T)s  'ne^prqpAvo^ ,  ws  airo  t6(ov 
Lnrarai  daradeeaat,  peXos  hebovrjpjivov  avpaif  ••^ 

opdiov  rjepodcv  8c  ncawv  etcvXivbero  yoxji 
aA/Ltart  rqXcTropo),  'n€<f>opripL€vos  turrri  TToXfUft 
X^^pos  ivarpeTTTOio,  ^pwv  avroouxnov  opfii/p^, 
claoKc  (rqp,ara  ndvra  napehpofiev'  dypofuvoi  W 
TrdvTcs  incafiapdyrjaav  OTTnrevrTJpes  dycjvo^,  ••• 

dXXofjLevov  hioKOLO  redTjTTorcs  dararov  opyirpf. 

Kat  hovicjv  hvo  hovpa  avv  v^iX6<f>w  rpv^^tiXtlji 
htirXoa  Bwpa  /ccJ/ztfcv  dyrjvopewv  'AXifi-q^s' 
"AKfJLCov  8*  elXiTToh-qs  XP^^^^^^  Kowfnxjt  fiirprjv' 
/cat  rpLTOs  Evpvpidhwv  <f>idXr)v  diwpwrov  deipaf        T^ 
dpL^ideTOv  KTcpas  cIAc*  KaT7]<f>i.6atv  he  trpoawvi^ 
ve^plha  ttolklXovcotov  dvrjepra^e  WeXiaaevf. 

Kat  TTpofidxoLS  Aiovvaos  dddXia  B-qtcaro  rofav, 
evGTox^'qs  dvddT)p.a-  /cat  eTrraerrjpov  ipvaua^ 
'qfilovov  raXaepyov  ivecn-qpi^ev  dywvi,  '^ 

/cat  Senas  eviroiqTOv  dddXiov  lararo  I'ucqs 
dvSpl  ;^€p€toT€pa>  7re<f>vXayp.evov.     EvpvaXos  8^ 
vrjLov  opdcoaas  irepLfi'qKeTov  Urrov  dpovprq 
arfJGev  xmep  Banebov  ipafiaOwheos,  vi/fufavrj  8^ 

84 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  679-709 

the  lump,  swung  it  well  and  threw  :  the  Seilenoi 
laughed  loudly  at  the  fellow's  miserable  throw! 
Second,  Eurymedon  rested  his  hand  on  the  weight 
[and  threw  it  farther].  Then  highcrested  Acmon 
took  the  lump,  swung  it  well  with  experienced 
wrist,  and  cast  the  heavy  missile  hurtling  through 
the  air ;  the  missile  travelled  through  the  air  hke 
the  wind,  and  passed  Eurymedon 's  mark  by  a  longer 
measure,  whirling  swiftly.  Then  Halimedes,  tower- 
ing high  on  his  feet,  sent  the  weight  travelling 
through  the  air  to  the  mark:  the  mass  whistled 
amid  the  stormwinds  in  the  sky  when  hurled  by 
that  strong  hand — for  it  flew  like  an  arrow  straight 
from  a  bow,  twirled  by  unstable  breezes  ;  down  from 
the  sky  to  the  earth  it  fell  after  its  long  leap,  and 
rolled  along  the  ground  still  under  the  impulse  of 
the  accomplished  hand,  moving  of  itself,  until  it  had 
passed  all  the  marks.  The  spectators  of  the  contest 
crowded  and  cheered  all  together,  amazed  at  the 
unchecked  movement  of  the  weight  bounding  along. 

^^^  Halimedes  proudly  received  the  double  prize, 
and  went  off  with  the  highplumed  helmet  shaking 
the  pair  of  spears.  Acmon  came  shuffling  up  and 
lifted  the  body-belt  shining  with  gold  ;  third  Eury- 
medon took  up  his  treasure,  the  brand-new  bowl  with 
two  handles  ;  Melisseus  with  downcast  countenance 
lifted  the  dappled  fawnskin. 

703  j^^Q^  Dionysos  put  prizes  ready  for  champions 
of  the  bow,  the  offering  for  good  archery.  He  led 
out  for  the  contest  a  hardy  sevenyear  mule,  and 
made  it  stand  before  the  company  ;  and  laid  down 
a  well-finished  goblet  as  prize  of  victory  to  be  kept 
for  the  less  competent  man.  Then  Euryalos  planted 
a  ship's  tall  mast  in  the  ground,  upright  above  the 

85 


NONNOS 

hioiiiov  r)a)f)r)a€  ncXeioBa  avfinXoKW  lory,  ^W 

XeTTTaXdov  Stcraotcrt  fiCrov  n€fH  Troaaiy  /Aifaf . 
/cat  deos  dypo^evoig  evaywviov  uxx<  ^tMtrtpf, 
€is  OKOTTOV  ri€p6<t>oiTov  6iar€vrfjpai  itxtiyum' 

"  "^O?  /Ltcy  6i<Tr€va(i€  TrtAciaSo^  oKpa  lop^oag, 
rjixlovov  <f)€p€TU)  7ToXvaX<f>€a,  fJMprrvpa  vuctf^'  ^l* 

OS  §€  TrapaTfAaJotTO  TrcAciaSoj  ciV  a*f<woi'  tXtntv, 
opvLV  ixryXoiXivt.  Xnrujv  axa^toxrov  oumft, 
aKpa  he  p,7)pivBou>  fiaXutv  7rr€p6€VTi  ptXifivfft, 
rjaoova  ro^cuaetc  /cat  rjaaova  hwpa  Scjf^o^* 
dvTL  yap  Tjfiiovov  Bdnas  ouj€rau,  o^pd  $ct  0otfi^    'f^ 
To^o<l>6p(x)  cm€ia€i€  /cat  oli'oxvTa}  ^toyvaw," 

ToloV    €7TOS    pOOOiVTOS    €\€Kr€dvOiO    AvOtOV 

ev^Oiirris  'T/xcVato?  c/cr^jSoAo^  ci?  ^ao¥  ian^  .   .  . 
€19  OKOTTOV  WvKcXcvdov  dywv  dyriuTriov  urroO, 
KvcucTCTta  To|a  <f>€pwv  T€ravvayL€va  icvrnXihi  **n^,  'M 
^AarepLos  7Tpo€7]K€  jScAo?  kAyJpoio  Tvxi}aay, 
/cat  TU^f  p.rjplvdoLO'  ha'Lt,ofi€inrjg  5<  /ScA/fU^ 
77€ptT7  7T€<l>6prjro  ixerdpaios  opvis  dXrjfiwy' 
/cat  fXLTOs  els  x^ova  mTrrc. 

Si*  tHpiTropov  ht  tetXfv^ov 
ofifxa  (f>€poiv  iX(,ia]h6v,  xmkp  v€^u>v  hk  SotC€VQMt      TM 
To^evTTjp  *Yp,€vaLos  eTOLfjLOTdTTjs  drro  vrvpiff 
els  OKOTTOV  r)ep6<f>oiTOv  VTrrjvefJUOV  /3<Ao9  cAkcm^ 
d^vrepov  TTpoeiqKe,  TreXeidSos  din-a  rtramtfy* 
/cat  TTrepoeis  ttcttottjto  Si*  r^epos  los  aXrfnfq 
aKpo^avriSy  fieoa  vwra  TTapa^vwv  ve^XauMV,  IM 

GvplC^cov  dvep-oior  peXos  S*  tOwev  *AnoAAtuy 
TTLord  <j)epcx}v  Svoeparri  KaoiyinjTip  Siovvatft' 
iTTTafievrjs  S*  ervxqoe  TrcAcidSoj,  eaavfidvTf^  S^ 
crr7}^co9  aKpov  cruj/fe*  ^apwopJi'ov  Sc  #caf>^i*ov 
opn?  dcAAiJcacra  St*  lyc/wy  efineae  yatr)-  740 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  710-740 

sandy  soil,  and  fastened  a  wild  pigeon  by  a  string 
to  the  top  of  the  mast,  winding  a  light  cord  about 
the  two  feet.  The  god  called  to  all  those  assembled 
for  the  games,  inviting  any  to  shoot  at  the  flying 
mark  : 

714  "  Whoever  shall  pierce  the  skin  of  the  pigeon, 
let  him  receive  this  valuable  mule  as  witness  to  his 
victory  :  whoever  shall  draw  at  the  mark  and  miss 
the  pigeon,  leaving  the  bird  unwounded  by  the 
barbed  arrow,  but  shall  touch  the  string  with  his 
feathered  shaft,  he  will  be  a  worse  shot  and  he  shall 
receive  a  worse  prize ;  for  instead  of  the  mule  he 
shall  carry  off  the  goblet,  that  he  may  pour  a 
libation  to  Archer  Apollo  and  Winegod  Dionysos." 

^22  Such  was  the  proclamation  of  wealthy  Lyaios. 
Then  Hymenaios  the  longshot,  with  his  flowing  hair, 
came  forward  [and  after  him  Asterios.  The  lot  fell 
to  Asterios  ;]  and  he  taking  aim  straight  at  the  mast 
in  front  of  him,  with  his  Cnossian  bow  and  the  string 
pulled  back  from  it,  let  fly  the  first  shot,  and  hit  the 
string.  When  the  shaft  cut  the  string,  the  bird  flew 
away  up  into  the  sky  and  the  cord  fell  to  the  ground. 
Archer  Hymenaios  followed  round  the  bird's  high 
course  with  his  eye  and  watched  for  him  over  the 
clouds  ;  he  had  his  bowstring  quite  ready,  and  let 
fly  a  swift  shot  through  the  air  at  his  highflying  mark, 
aiming  at  the  pigeon.  The  winged  arrow  sped 
travelling  through  the  air  visible  on  high,  grazing  the 
surface  of  the  cloud  in  the  middle,  whistling  at  the 
winds.  Apollo  held  the  shot  straight,  keeping  faith 
with  his  lovesick  brother  Dionysos  ;  the  point  hit  the 
flying  pigeon  and  struck  it  upon  the  breast  as  it 
sped,  and  the  bird  fell  through  the  air  quick  as  the 
wind  to  the  earth,  with  heavy  head,  and  half-dead 

87 


NONNOS 

riiJLidavrj9  Sc  n^Xeia  ntpl  Trrtpa  troAA*  tcawfi, 
TToaal  ncpLGKalpovaa  \opoTTX€t(lo^  Atoi'uoov. 

Kat  ^eos"  rjprjTTJpog  avaBpwoKwv  M  vucjj 
X^^po.s  €7r€7TXaTdy7jG€v  cVt^cAayfo?  'Tfi€valtft' 
^vvol  8*  etV  €vl  TTairrtg,  oGoi  Trap^fUfivov  ayw¥t,      71* 
dYxi-V€<f>rj  ddfJLprjaav  €KrjpoXirjv  T/Acvotov. 
/cat  yeXowv  J^Lowao^  ecu?  7raXdfirf<ny  ipwroot 
rjp.LOVov  TTopc  Swpov  oiJKiXofuyrjv  *Xfi€\'aUi»' 
/cat  yepas  'AoTfptoio  ScVay  /cot><^c(oy  /rcupot. 

Kai  <t>LXirjv  cm  STJptv  d/coi^iOT^pa?  i'rr€iyia¥  780 

*Iy8t/cd  Bd/c;^09  dc^Aa  <f>€patv  nap€$r)K€V  dywvt, 
hLxdahi7)v  Kvr^pxha  /cat  'Ii'S^tjj  At^oK  aX^rf^. 
opdcjdclg  8*  dydpcuf,  Siko  8*  cVcAcikjc  ^a^pptuff, 
o^pa  fiodo)  TraifoPTi  /cat  ou  /CTc«*om  <7i5i;^ 
fjufJLTjXrjv  reAcacoatw  dpat/xovo9  ct/cdi^  )(dpfirji'  Hi 

"  O^os"  dycbv  8uo  <f>an-a^  dKovriarrjpaf  fytipom 
fjLclXixov  of8ev  "Aprja  /cai  ct)oi(>OK7ac  *E*a>cu.** 

''i^S'  <f>afjL€vov  Bpo/xtb(o  a(87jp€a  T«/;(€a  iroAAciir 
'AoTcpios"  KCKopvcrro,  /ecu  Aiaxdy  ctV  fuaov  I<mi 
xdXKCOV  €yxos  €xojv,  noXvSaiSaXov  dtm&a  inXkunt,  7W 
Ota  Accov  dypavXog  eTTataavjv  nvi  ravpift 
"5  OT>t  Aa;j^v7y€VTi  •  aihr^pdcp  h€  ;^iTaiw 
€t9  ficaov  ippwovTo  KaXviltdp.€voi  S^p-a^  d^i/^m 
"Apeos  alxfJLTjrijpi^-  6  pkv  hopv  Oovpov  laAAo/r 
'AcTTcptos",  MtVcoos"  cx^*'  narpwiov  dXjcrfv,  TM 

ovraac  8e^tTcpoto  ^paxiovos  dxpov  d/xt*faf 
Off  8€  /car*  da<f)apdyoto  ai8-qp€ov  fyxos  d€ipug¥ 
Ata/cos",  vii/Lp,€BovTos  €Ov  Ato?  dfta  pt^aw, 

VV^ai  fJL€V  p,€V€at,V€   fl€GaiTaTOV   dv6€p€wva' 

oAAd  €  BdKxos  €pvK€  /cat  rjp7raa€  <f>oiyiov  aixfti/f^,  770 
88 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  741-770 

the  pigeon  beat  about  with  its  wings  in  the  dust, 
fluttering  about  the  feet  of  Dionysos  weaver  of 
dances. 

^*3  Then  the  god  leapt  up  on  the  young  man's 
victory,  and  clapt  his  hands  to  applaud  Hymenaios ; 
and  the  company  one  and  all  who  were  present  at 
the  contest  were  astonished  at  the  long  shot  of 
Hymenaios  near  the  clouds.  Dionysos  laughing 
led  forward  with  his  own  hands  the  mule  which 
was  due  as  a  prize  to  Hymenaios,  and  gave  it  to 
him ;  and  the  comrades  of  Asterios  lifted  his  prize, 
the  goblet. 

750  Now  Bacchos  invited  those  present  to  a  friendly 
match  at  casting  the  javelin,  and  brought  forward 
Indian  prizes,  a  pair  of  greaves,  and  a  stone  from  the 
Indian  sea.  He  rose  and  made  his  announcement, 
and  called  for  two  warriors,  bidding  them  show  a 
fictitious  image  of  bloodless  battle,  with  not-killing 
steel  in  sport  : 

756  «« This  contest  summons  two  javelin-men,  and 
knows  only  Ares  gentle  and  Enyo  tranquil." 

^^®  So  spoke  Bromios,  and  Asterios  came  up  armed, 
shaking  his  weapons  of  steel  ;  and  Aiacos  stept  for- 
ward, holding  a  bronze  spear  and  shaking  a  shield 
gorgeously  adorned,  like  a  lion  in  the  country  charg- 
ing a  bull  or  a  shaggy  boar.  Both  these  spearmen 
of  Ares  marched  forward  covered  \nth  steel  corselets. 
Asterios  cast  a  furious  spear  with  the  vigour  of 
Minos  his  father,  and  he  wounded  the  right  arm 
grazing  the  skin.  Aiacos,  doing  a  deed  worthy  of 
his  father  Zeus  Lord  in  the  highest,  aimed  his  iron 
spear  at  the  gullet  and  tried  to  pierce  the  throat 
right  in  the  middle  ;  but  Bacchos  checked  him  and 
caught  the  deadly  blade,  that  he  might  not  strike 


NONNOS 

airx^va  firj  TrXrj^eiev  oKovrurrrjpi  ai&i^ptp' 
ayi<j>or€povs  S*  dv€K(Hlf€  Kal  ta;f€  Ovuihi  ^ujvfj' 

"  *Pu/jaT€  Tcvx^cL  ravra  ifUXrjv  OTTjoovrcy  *KyiKu' 
dpdfiios  ovros  "ApT]^,  Kal  avovrarol  cuny  dywiti." 

"EwcTTcv-  €yp€fi6dov  S^  Xofiwv  iTptofii^  VUOff    774 
AlaKos  av)(rj€i,9  XP^^^^^  Kvr)fu&ai  dtipitw 
8oJK€v  ca»  OepdnovTi'  koI  vartpa  bwpa  KoyHu¥ 
*Aar€pL09  Kov<l>i^€  SopiKTTfrrjv  XiBov  *lvSij^. 


90 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVII.  771-778 

the  neck  with  the  cast  spear.  Then  he  made  them 
both  stop,  and  called  out  with  wild  voice — 

773  "  Drop  those  spears  !  Yours  was  a  friendly 
battle.  This  is  a  peaceful  war,  a  contest  without 
wounds." 

"^"^^  So  he  spoke.  Aiacos  proudly  received  the 
prize  of  battlestirring  victory,  and  took  the  golden 
greaves,  which  he  handed  over  to  his  servant. 
Asterios  carried  off  the  second  prize,  the  Indian 
stone  taken  by  force  of  arms. 


91 


AIONTIIAKDN  TPIAKOSTON  OFAOON 

*Hxt  rpLrjKooTov  WAcv  oyhoov,  alBawt  oaA^ 
BeiXalov  ^aedovro^  €x**^  fiopov  ^tnoxfjof. 

Avro  8*  dycov  Xaol  8c  /icrrjtok'  ti-hia  X^Xf^t 
Kal  a<l)€T€pai9  KXiOiTjoiv  ofitXtoy  aypo¥6fMM  hi 
lldv€S  ivavXil^ovTO  ;^apa8pau><ai  fxtXaBpoif, 
avTOTTayrj  yaiorrcj  €prjfidoo^  avrpa  Ataurfft 
ianepLOL-  ^drvpoi.  8c  8c8u#foTC9  tU  aniof  ipmro9    • 
drjyaXcoLS  ovvx^ggl  koI  ov  rfirjrrjpi  9i&ijpy 
TreTpalrjv  iXdx^t-av  iKOiXaivo^ro  )fa^iVi;y, 
€lg6k€v  opdpos  €Xapnp€   a€Xaa<f>6po^ ,  a/>Tt^aWf  M 
dpL^oripois  avcTcAAc  yaXTt)\'air)^  f^do^  *\\ovf, 
*lvSoLS  Kal  ^arvpoiGiv  cVci  totc  irufrAo&c  ruooji      10 

MuySoVtOU    TToXipLOlO    KoX    *h'8a>OlO    Nv8<M^iO0 

dfi^oXLrjv  irdwoacv  eXi^  \p6vo^'  ou8c  ri^  airoit 
ov  (f>6vos,  ov  r6r€  hi]pis'  ckcito  8c  'rr)X6Bi  ^^ap^iift 
^aKx^-ds  €^aeT7)pos  dpaxvioojira  Po€irj. 

'AAA*  oT€  St)  TToXefiojv  €Tos  c)38o/xoK  iJyayoT  ^QpOA,  !• 
ovpdvLov  TOTC  (T^/xa  TTpoayycAov  oax>7ri  Boir)^ 
^atVcTO,  OdjiPos  diTiGTov  cVci  {o^os>  ijfiaTi  yUoo^ 
dTTpo'Cb-qs  T€Tdw(jTOt  K€X<uvi6wvri  8c  ntvXtft 
93 


BOOK  XXXVIII 

When  the  thirty-eighth  takes  its  turn,  you  have  the 

fate  of  unhappy  Phaethon  in  the  chariot, 

with  a  blazing  brand. 

The  games  were  over.  The  people  retired  into  the 
recesses  of  the  forest,  and  entered  their  huts.  The 
rustic  Pans  housed  themselves  under  shelter  in 
the  ravines,  for  they  occupied  at  evening  time 
the  natural  caverns  of  a  lioness  in  the  wilds.  The 
Satyrs  dived  into  a  bear's  cave,  and  hollowed  their 
Uttle  bed  in  the  rock  with  sharp  finger-nails  in  place 
of  cutting  steel ;  until  the  lightbringing  morning 
shone,  and  the  brightness  of  Dawn  newly  risen 
showed  itself  peacefully  to  both  Indians  and  Satyrs. 
For  then  Time  rolling  in  his  ambit  prolonged  the 
truce  of  combat  and  strife  between  Indians  and 
Mygdonians ;  there  was  no  carnage  among  them 
then,  no  conflict,  and  the  shield  which  Bacchos  had 
borne  for  six  years  lay  far  from  the  battle  covered 
with  spiders'  webs." 

^^  But  as  soon  as  the  Seasons  brought  the  seventh 
year  of  warfare,  a  foreboding  sign  was  shown  to  wine- 
faced  Bacchos  in  the  sky,  an  incredible  wonder. 
For  at  midday,  a  sudden  darkness  was  spread  abroad, 

"  From  Bacchylides,  frag.  3  (Jebb),  6-7.  Nonnos  means 
there  \n  as  perfect  peace. 

93 


NONNOS 

KpvTTTOixcvov  ^acdovTa  fi€(n)^pia^  cfxcv  Sfdx^, 

KX€7TTOfl€Vr)S    8*    OLKTIVO^    €TT€aKi6w%rrO    KoXut¥ai'  ! 

/cat  7roXv9  €v6a  Kal  €vBa  Karripint  nvpaof  oAifnyi , 
dpfiaros  ovpavloio  Karappvros'  dnpa  84  yairf^ 
livpios  €KXva€v  op.Ppog,  €KVfiaivoyTo  Bi  fttrptu 
TjeptaLS  At^aScaatv,  ccuj  fioytS  w/wBi  hi^pov 
v\fji<f}av7]s  di'CTcAAf  'uaXiv  nvpoti^  'Tntpiutv. 

BdKx<p  8*  dax<^owvTi  5i'  r}€po^  alatof  hmi 
aUros  vipiKcXevdos ,  oif>Lv  K€p6€vra  Kop^iMt^ 
drjyaXcoLS  ovvx^Gaiv  6  §€  Bpaavv  airx^va  tcd^trrw^ 
KV[jLpaxos  avTOKvXiaros  iTrotXlaOrfatv  *yhdawjf. 
Kal  Tpofiep-q  m^pidfjLov  oXov  arparov  ilx^  onartnj* 
"IS/xcov  8*  aloX6p.r)ris ,  €V€t  fiddev  opyia  Slovarff 
Ovpaviris  cvkvkXov  €'jTurrapi€yTjs  irw  darpcur, 
drpofios  lararo  pxivvos,  cttci  fidd€V  S/Aon  ^^XHI 
crvinrXcKcos  ^aiBovrt  KardaKia  KvxXa  £<Ai}n^, 
Kal  <f>X6ya  7Top<f)vpovaav  vno  ^o<f>0€t&€i  K<a¥tgt 
/cAcTTTO/icVou  ^aedovTog  dOrj-qroio  irop€ir)^, 
Kal  TTarayov  Ppovralov  dpaaaopJvwv  vt^cAcUtfr, 
aWepLOV  /xu/cT^/xa,  Kal  darpdmovra  KOfn^rrjv, 
Kal  BoklSojv  aKTLva,  Kal  IpiTwpov  aXpjx  KtpawoO. 
Tola  nap*  Ovpaviris  h€har]p.€vos  €pya  dtaiyfff 
Icrraro  dapcrqcaaav  exojv  <f>p€va'  yutd  8*  CiC<urrov 
Xvero'  piavTLTToXos  Sc  yipoiv  ycAocui^i  irpoaumtp 
"Ihpxov  €fi7T€86p,vdov  €xojv  cVt  ;(etA€ai  irtiBw 
Xaov  oXov  uapcrwev,  on  ;^povu>io  kvBoiuoO 
iaaofJLcvrjv  fierd  paiov  €7riaraTO  ytCrova  vitcrfv, 

Kal  <!>pijy(,ov  TToXviBpiv  dv^ipero  pLOvrw  ^EptxjMt, 

o  Nonnos  seems  to  think    that  a  solar  cdipae    Mf 
meteors. 

94 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  19-46 

and  a  midday  obscurity  covered  Phaethon  with  its 
black  pall,  and  the  hills  were  overshadowed  as  his 
beams  were  stolen  away.  Many  a  stray  brand  fell 
here  and  there  scattered  from  the  heavenly  car  <* ; 
thousands  of  rainshowers  deluged  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  the  rocks  were  flooded  by  drops  from  the  sky, 
until  fiery  Hyperion  rose  again  shining  high  on  his 
chariot  after  his  hard  struggle. 

26  Then  a  happy  omen  was  seen  by  impatient 
Bacchos,  an  eagle  flying  high  through  the  air,  holding 
a  horned  snake  in  his  sharp  talons.  The  snake  twisted 
his  bold  neck,  and  slipt  away  of  itself  diving  into  the 
river  Hydaspes.  Trembling  silence  held  all  that 
innumerable  host.  Idmon  alone  stood  untrembling, 
Idmon  the  treasury  of  learned  lore,  for  he  had  been 
taught  the  secrets  of  Urania,  the  Muse  who  knows  the 
round  circuit  of  the  stars  :  he  had  been  taught  by  his 
learned  art  ^  the  shades  on  the  Moon's  orb  when  in 
union  with  the  Sun,  and  the  ruddy  flame  of  Phaethon 
stolen  out  of  sight  from  his  course  behind  the  cone  of 
darkness,  and  the  clap  of  thunder,  the  heavenly  bellow 
of  the  bursting  clouds,  and  the  shining  comet,  and  the 
flame  of  meteors,''  and  the  fiery  leap  of  the  thunder- 
bolt. Having  been  taught  all  these  doings  by  Urania 
the  goddess  he  stood  with  dauntless  heart,  while  the 
limbs  of  every  man  were  loosened.  But  Idmon  that 
ancient  seer  encouraged  all  the  host,  with  laughing 
countenance,  and  words  of  confident  persuasion  upon 
his  lips :  "I  know,"  he  said,  "  that  victory  is  near, 
and  soon  it  will  end  this  long  struggle." 

^  Erechtheus  also  inquired  of  the  accomplisht  Phry- 

^  Idmon  means  learned. 

*  SoKis,  a  small  beam  of  wood,  was  used  for  a  long  narrow 
meteor. 

95 


NONNOS 

avfi^oXa  TraTnaivujv  tmdrov  Ai09,  €»  irAf  y^pfglffi 
aXoia  Svafi€V'€€aaiv  ^  ^IvBwftoyw  Aioyvatfi, 
ov  Toaov  vGfXLirqs  Trodtwv  tc'Ao?,  oaoo¥  <uroAPB* 
fivuTLTToXoLs  odpoiai  fi€fi'qX6ra  fiOdav  ^Okifuwov, 
Kal  GTLxcis  darpaUov  IXuauv  koX  tcvtcXdha  fi^l^, 
Kal  Svaiv  rjfjLaTirjv  Oac^oi^iBo;  o^fiopor  olyAi^f 
KXeTrrofieinrj^ .     aUl  St  d€Oppnfrwv  ntpH  fiMitr 
'Ardibos  dpxaiTjs  <f>iXon€v6(€i  €iai  noXiriu, 

OvSc  yepwv  dfieXriat  Btonpo^o^,  oAAa  AmUIw 
a€LU)v  Eum  Ovpaa  Koi  ov  Wayarrq&a  hd^t^ 
Tolov  €7ros  fiam-coov  dyijpvy^v  dv$€p€<Javof 

"  Elaatciv  cWAci?  <l>p€VoB(Xyta  ^v$C¥,  *¥,^tyjM, 
ov  fiovvoL  SeSdaai  dcol  va€rijfKi  *OXvfincv; 
Xe^oj  S*,  ofs  fi€  SiSafcj'  €fx6^  ba(^yalof  *\n6XXu¥,    i 

flTj    aT€p07n)v    TpOp€OiS»    flT)    SctSt^l    ITVpOOV   <Ul(T1p« 

pLT)  hpopLOv  'HcAt'ou  t,o<l>o€th€a,  piTihi  Xvalov 
viK-qs  iaaopL^vj)s  TrpwrdyY^Xov  opitv  *OXvfAmmf 
ojs  6  y€  d-qyaXiwv  ovv^wv  Kt^oi^ypAvo^  fuxfi^iif 
apirayos  olcovolo  7T€7rapp€vo^  o^€i  rapot^,  ( 

€ts"  TTpoxods  TTorap^to  bpdjciuv  (LXuiBt  Ktpdtm^, 
KoX  v€Kvv  ipTTTjarrjpa  y4pu)v  tKpv^v  'Vhdawtf^, 
ovroj    ATjpLdSrjv  Trarpwiov  otSpa  KoXwfKi 

€LK€XoV    €lSo9    €XOXna    pOOKpaipw    y€V€T7Jpl," 

Tola  yipwv  dy6p€V€  OcTjyopo^'  dpt^  64  fuSB^        ' 
pavTLTToXcp  yrjdrjoev  oXos  arparo^'  (foxa  5'  aXXwm 
davpari  x^PH^  K€paaa€v  dpiyropo^  d(rr6i  *A(^ijn|f, 
roLOS  iojv  yXvKcpfjaiv  in*  iXiriaiv,  w^  cw  fUotn^ 
Kcopd^ojv  MapaOcovi  per*  'Ap€a  Arjpia&TJog, 

Kal  t6t€  p^vvwdivTi  <f>iXoaK07r€Xip  Aioiiuqjm  \ 

o  Is   this   a   reminiscence   of   St.    Paul**    vonk  «■  lkt 
96 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  4.7-75 

gian  prophet,  when  he  saw  the  portents  of  Highest 
Zeus,  whether  they  were  favourable  to  the  enemy  or 
to  Indian-slaying  Dionysos.  He  did  not  so  much  wish 
for  the  end  of  the  conflict,  but  rather  to  hear  the 
message  from  Olympos,  the  theme  of  mystical 
tales,  and  the  orders  of  circling  stars,  and  the  round 
moon,  and  the  sunset  at  midday  which  has  no  light 
of  Phaethon  because  this  is  stolen  away.  Always 
the  citizens  of  ancient  Athens  are  ready  to  hear 
discourses  concerning  the  gods." 

^^  Nor  was  the  old  seer  neglectful ;  but  shaking  his 
Euian  thyrsus  instead  of  the  Panopeian  laurel,*  he 
uttered  these  words  of  interpretation  with  his  mouth  : 

^^  **  Do  you  wish,  Erechtheus,  to  hear  the  heart- 
consoling  tale  which  only  the  gods  know  who  dwell  in 
Olympos  ?  Well,  I  will  speak,  as  my  laurelled  Apollo 
has  taught  me.  Tremble  not  at  the  lightning,  fear 
not  the  travelling  brand,  nor  the  darkened  course  of 
Helios,  nor  the  bird  of  Olympos,  first  harbinger  of 
Lyaios's  victory  to  come  ;  as  that  horned  snake,  torn 
by  the  sharp  pointed  claws  of  the  robber  bird  and 
pierced  by  its  talons,  slipt  into  the  waters  of  the  river, 
and  old  Hydaspes  swallowed  the  reptile  corpse,  so 
Deriades  shall  be  swallowed  in  the  flood  of  his  father's 
stream  under  the  likeness  of  his  bullhorned  sire." 

"^  Thus  spoke  the  old  prophet ;  and  at  the  diviner's 
words  all  the  host  was  glad,  but  beyond  others  the 
citizen  of  unmothered  Athene  mingled  gladness  with 
wonder,  as  full  of  joy  in  his  sweet  hopes  as  if  he  were 
triumphing  in  Marathon  itself  after  the  war  with 
Deriades. 

'^  And  now  to  Dionysos,  alone  among  the  rocks 
Areopagus,  Acts  xvii.  22  dvbpcs  *Adr)vatoi,  Kara  irdvra  ws 
BeiaibaiiiovcoTcpovs  v/xas  decopd)  ? 

*  Delphian  :   Panopeus  was  near  Delphi. 
VOL.  Ill  H  97 


NONNOS 

crvyyovos  ovpavoStv  A  to?  dyycAoy  nXv6€V  'Epftiftt 
/cat  TLva  fJLvdov  cetTre  irapryyoptrnv  ttrl  vLtCJH' 

"M17  rpofxeois  toSc  (rfjfia, 

Kal  ct  ttAcv  i}^t^  yiff ' 
TouTo  aot,  dTpofi€  BaKX€,  Trarfjp  avt^vt  Kpiatfium 
viKT]^  *\vSo(f)6voio  TTpoayyiXov  r^Xu^  yap  ^ 

ScvTepov  acTTpaLTTTOVTi  <f>€pavyta  Baxvoi'  iuntutf 
KoX  dpaavv  6p<l>vaiT)  pL^Xavoxpoov  *\i^¥  ifUx^' 
aWepL  yap  tvttos  ovtos  ofioiu}^'  €V^a/ii>i  M 
ws  ^6<t>os  rfpLoXSwe  KaXu7rrop,€yrj^  ^dof  ioOf, 
Kal  naXiv  dvrcXXajv  TTvpufKyytos  v^toOi  hi^ptm  •• 

*HeAto?  (,o<t>6€G(Tav  d7n;/coKri{cv  ofjuvXriP, 
ovrco  awv  pXcifxipwv  /xoAa  rqXodi  k<u  av  rwdfof 
Taprapvqs  fo<^«7<7ai/  'Eptwoy  daK07ro¥  dix^*^ 
dorpaxli€Ls  kot   'Aprja  ro  h^vrtpov  coy  'XntpUum, 
ttjXIkov  ov  7tot€  Oavfia  ytpwv  rp<xf>6^*  rfyaytP  AiaW,  W 
ef  OT€  haLfxovioLO  TTVpo^  p€^Xri^Uvoi  arfitp 
KVfipaxos  'HcAtoto  <f>€pavy€o^  ticntat  hUtpov 
TjiiLharjg  ^a€dojv,  Trorafiw  5*  cVpimrcTO  KcAr^* 
Kal  dpaavv  rjPrjrrjpa  nap*  6<f>pv<nv  *Hpi5avo£a 
'HAtdSes"  Ki-wpoZaLV  crt  ortvd^ovoi  irmJAotj/*         •• 

*Q?  (f>afi€vov  Aiowao^  €yTJ$€€v  tXn&i  yunfi* 
*EipiJL€Lav  S*  €p€€LV€,  Kal  rjOiXe  fjLoXXov  axouoai 
KcAtoCs"  'EaTTcptotCTt  pL€firjX6ra  fiv&ov  *0Xvfi9oo, 
TTws  ^acdcov  K€KvXL(rro  8t*  aW€po^,  rj  w6$€V  ovrol 
'HAtdScs-  irapd  X^^H-^  yoTjpovo^  *H/>i3ayoio  100 

€t9  <l)irr6v  rifiel^oirro,  Kal  €V7r€TdXwv  diro  5ri^/xiir 
hdKpva  fiapjialpovTa  KaraaraXdovai  p€€6p(HS' 

Kat  ot  dv€ipopL€V(x) 

TTcrdaas  arofia  /xctAt^oy  'Epfi^ 
ddoKeXov  ippoLp^aev  cttos  <t>iXo7r€v6€i  B<urx9>* 
^  So  Mss. :  x/x>»^  Ludwidu 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  76-104 

which  he  loved,  came  Hermes  his  brother  from  heaven 
as  messenger  of  Zeus,  and  spoke  assuring  him  of 
victory : 

''s  **  Tremble  not  at  this  sign,  even  though  night 
came  at  midday.  This  sign,  fearless  Bacchos,  your 
father  Cronion  has  shown  you  to  foretell  your  victory 
in  the  Indian  War.  For  I  liken  Bacchos  the  hght- 
bringer  to  the  sun  shining  again,  and  the  bold  black 
Indian  to  the  thick  darkness.  That  is  what  is  meant 
by  the  picture  in  the  sky.  For  as  the  darkness  blotted 
out  and  covered  the  light  of  shining  day,  and  then 
Helios  rose  again  in  his  fireshining  chariot  and  dis- 
persed the  gross  darkness,  so  you  also  shall  shake 
from  your  eyes  far  far  away  the  darksome  sightless 
gloom  of  the  Tartarian  Fury,  and  blaze  again  on  the 
battlefield  like  Hyperion.  So  great  a  marvel  ancient 
eternal  Time  our  foster-father  has  never  brought, 
since  Phaethon,  struck  by  the  steam  of  fire  divine, 
fell  tumbling  half-burnt  from  Helios 's  lightbearing 
chariot,  and  was  swallowed  up  in  the  Celtic  river  ; 
and  the  daughters  of  Helios  are  still  on  the  banks 
of  Eridanos,  lamenting  the  audacious  youth  with 
their  whimpering  leaves." 

^  At  these  words,  Dionysos  rejoiced  in  hope  of 
victory ;  then  he  questioned  Hermes  and  wished  to 
hear  more  of  the  Olympian  tale  which  the  Celts  of 
the  west  know  well :  how  Phaethon  tumbled  over 
and  over  through  the  air,  and  why  even  the  daughters 
of  Helios  were  changed  into  trees  beside  the  moaning 
Eridanos,  and  from  their  leafy  trees  drop  sparkling 
tears  into  the  stream. 

103  In  answer,  friendly  Hermes  opened  his  mouth 
and  noised  out  his  inspired  tale  to  Bacchos  eagerly 
listening : 


NONNOS 

"  *Avhpofi4ov,  Atdwcrc,  piov  rtpilfififipoTt  woi^ifr,  lOi 
€t  (T€  TToXaiyevewv  muiv  yXvK^  oUrrpos  hrtiyti, 
jxvdov  oXov  ^a^dovros  €yw  aroiYpSov  Mdtw, 
*Q.K€av6s  KcXdSwv,  fiiTpovfUvo^  ayrvyi  $ewiiiOV0 
LKfjLoXerjv  7T€pl  vvaaav  aywv  yoii^jj^  I'Saiipf 
T-qBvos  dpxcyovoujLv  o/iiAi^as*  vfAMvaloit  '*• 

yvfJL<l)LOs  uSardciy  KXvfjUyrjv  Wiccv,  ijv  mnt  TifAfe 
Kpeioaova  ^-qiABwv  Supw  fiauoaaro  fuil^^, 
TTapdevov  onXorepriv  cvwAfVov,  ^  im  fiop^ 
*HeAio;  XvKdpama  hvw^KdfLf)VO¥  iXloowtf, 
aiOepos  iTTTa^iovoy  itw  {rrt^PaytjSov  oScilttir«  119 

KapLvc  TTvpos  rafjLirjs  €r€p<ft  irvpi'  koX  4^Mya  hi^ptu^ 
Kal  aeXas  aKrivwv  c/^ivjoaro  in>pa6s    E^wmw>j 
oTTTTOTc  <j>oiviaaovTos  imtp  K^pas  'Qiccaiioib, 
epLTTvpov  *Ha)oiaiv  iov  h€p.a^  vhaai  AoMiir, 
irapBlvov  dyxtKcXcvBov  lathpojctv,  6nnMt  yvparii      ISO 
vrix^TO  TTaTpu)oiaiv  i-niOKolpovoa  p€4BpOiis, 
XovopLcvTj  8'  'qaTpa7rr€V'  cqv  W  Tiy,  dff  &rt  huttnjii 
fiappLapiry7]v  rpoxdcaaav  duanXi^aaaa  K€paiff£ 
eancplr]  acAayiJc  8i*  vharos  ofiirvta  Mi^. 
rjiii(t)avr)s  8*  ciTrcStAoy  cV  v6aaiv  lararo  mvpti.         Iff 
'HeAtov  pohiTjOLv  dioreyouaa  Tro^uxT;* 
Koi  npoxoals  KexdpaKTo  tvttos  xpoos'  ov  tot«  tdrpti 
Kovprjs  arepva  KdiXimrc,  Karairyd^ovaa  Si  Mpu^fff 
dpyv(f>€Ojv  €VkvkXos  Itvs  <f>okviaatro  pLal^w¥. 

AWepCo)  S'  iXaTTJpL  narrip  cfct^aro  Kovpffv-  IJO 

#cat  YiXvpL€VT]s  vfJL€vaiov  dv€KXayov  €Viro5cf  *Qptu 

'  For  the  literary  historj-  of  Phafthon  from  AlcH 
times  on,  see  G.  Knaack,  QuasstioH4t  PftaHkomUm§m 
1886. 

"  The  Zodiac  (because  all   the  planets  more  w¥tUm  f^ 
The  Greeks  called  the  seven  heavenly  bodies  pkncts; 
100 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  105-131 

^^^  "  Dionysos,  joy  of  mankind,  shepherd  of  human 
life  !  If  sweet  desire  constrains  you  to  hear  these 
ancient  stories,  I  will  tell  you  the  whole  tale  of 
Phaethon  from  beginning  to  end.** 

1^  "  Loudbooming  Oceanos,  girdled  with  the  circle 
of  the  sky,  who  leads  his  water  earth-encompassing 
round  the  turning  point  which  he  bathes,  was  joined 
in  primeval  wedlock  with  Tethys.  The  watery  bride- 
groom begat  Clymene,  fairest  of  the  Naiads,  whom 
Tethys  nursed  on  her  wet  breast,  her  youngest,  a 
maiden  with  lovely  arms.  For  her  beauty  Helios 
pined,  Helios  who  spins  round  the  twelvemonth  licht- 
gang,  and  travels  the  sevenzone  circuit  ^  garland-wise 
— Helios  dispenser  of  fire  was  afflicted  with  another 
fire  !  The  torch  of  love  was  stronger  than  the 
blaze  of  his  car  and  the  shining  of  his  rays,  when 
over  the  bend  of  the  reddened  Ocean  as  he  bathed 
his  fiery  form  in  the  eastern  waters,  he  beheld  the 
maiden  close  by  the  way,  while  she  swam  naked  and 
sported  in  her  father's  waves.  Her  body  gleamed 
in  her  bath,  she  was  one  like  the  full  Moon  reflected 
in  the  evening  waters,  when  she  has  filled  the 
compass  of  her  twin  horns  with  light.  Half-seen, 
unshod,  the  girl  stood  in  the  waves  shooting  the 
rosy  shafts  from  her  cheeks  at  Helios ;  her  shape  was 
outlined  in  the  waters,  no  stomacher  hid  her  maiden 
bosom,  but  the  glowing  circle  of  her  round  silvery 
breasts  illuminated  the  stream. 

1^  "  Her  father  united  the  girl  to  the  heavenly 
charioteer.     The   lightfoot   Seasons   acclaimed   Cly- 

were  the  real  planets.  Mercury,  Venus,  Mars,  Jupiter,  Saturn, 
and  also  the  sun  and  moon.  Thus  the  Zodiac  is  called  seven- 
zoned.  Note  that  they  did  not  regard  the  Earth  as  a  planet, 
and  did  not  know  the  planets  Uranus  and  Neptune^t  P  >  u»  ■• . 

101 


NONNOS 

Kal  ydfiov  'HcAtbto  <f>a€a<f>6pov  ofi^  W  fsvft/^ai 
Nrjlhes  (jjpxr](TavTO-  nap*  vSaroetrn  5^  murhp 
cvXoxos  aoTpaTTTovTi  yafJLco  i'vpL^€V€ro  Kovpn), 
Koi  tjrvxpols  fJLcXceaaiv  cSc'faro  dtpfiov  otcoiTqif, 
darpal'qs  Sc  (f^dXayyos  €rjv  daXofLrrnoXof  olyAi}, 
Kal  p,€Xos  ciV  'Yp.€vaiov  dvttrXtKt  )^vrto*ho%  (umy^, 
Gvt^vyirjs  irpoKiXtvOos  *E.u><T^po9'  ovri  Si  frciWi^ 
wpL<f>i,hi'qv  OLKrlva  yafuxrroXov  €tx€  SfAiwii* 
*Ecr77-6pc8es-  5*  oAoAa^ot'*  c^  3*  a/xa  TrjBik  VI^M^ 
*Q/c€ayo9  KcXab-qac  fi€Xo^  TToXim&oKi  XaufU^, 

Kal  KXvfi€vr}^  yoi'OdTi  ydpxjt  icvfuuVrro  yfurr^' 
Koi  pp€<f>os  ciSiVowaa  7T€'natvofJLtvov  rotctrolo 
yclvaro  deoKcXov  via  <f>a€(nf>6pov.     Ofi^  hi  Kcniptf 
TLKTOfievo)  K€Xdbrja€  /xcAo^  rraTpoHOf  ai$^' 
*Q.K€avov  he  dvyaTp€9  dnoSpoHTKOvra  Xoxthff 
viia  TraTnriJooiaiv  €<f>aihpm'airro  Xo€rpoii' 
(nrdpy ava  8*  dfufK^dXayro' 

Kal  d(rr€p€9  alBimi  mXfuft 
€LS  pdov  diaaovres  ed^fio.'o^  *Ch<€ay6lo 
Kovpov  €KVKXojaavro ,  koX  EiXeiBvia  lIcA^nj 
lJLapfiapifyr)v  TrefiTTovaa  a€Xaa<f>6pov  *W4XLOi  hk 
vUi  bcoK€v  €X€LV  iov  ovvofia  fidfyrvpi  fu>p^ 
dpficvov  7]i6€ov  yap  in    d<rrpdnrovTi  npooumtf 
HeAtou  ycvcTTjpo?  ininpen^  avyyoi'O^  atykrj. 

IIoAAaKi  naiSoKOfioioiv  cV  rjOeaiv  d^pov  dBvptai¥ 
^CiK€av6s  ^aedovra  naXivSivrfrov  dmlpwv 
yacrrpl  fieoT)  Kov(f>i^€,  8i*  Vipmopov  d€  KtXtvBov 
aararov  avroeXiKTov  oAtJ/xovi  avvSpo^v  Wfm 
rjepodev  naXivopaov  cScfaro  Kovpov  dyoar<ft, 
Kal  ndXiv  TjKovTL^ev'  6  Sc  rpoxoiiUi  naXfuZ  I 

X^tpos  ivGrpeTTToio  napdrponos  ^Oj<€avoiO 
bwwTTJ  GTpo<l>dXLyyi  Karripinev  ciV  /icAov  v5om>. 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  132-162 

mene's  bridal  with  Helios  Lightbringer,  the  Naiad 
Nymphs  danced  around  ;  in  a  watery  bridal-bower 
the  fruitful  maiden  was  wedded  in  a  flaming  union, 
and  received  the  hot  bridegroom  into  her  cool  arms. 
The  light  that  shone  on  that  bridal  bed  came  from  the 
starry  train  ;  and  the  star  of  Cypris,  Lucifer,  herald 
of  the  union,  wove  a  bridal  song.  Instead  of  the 
wedding  torch,  Selene  sent  her  beams  to  attend  the 
wedding.  The  Hesperides  raised  the  joy-cry,  and 
Oceanos  beside  his  bride  Tethys  sounded  his  song 
with  all  the  fountains  of  his  throat. 

142  "  Then  Clymene's  womb  swelled  in  that  fruit- 
ful union,  and  when  the  birth  ripened  she  brought 
forth  a  baby  son  divine  and  brilhant  with  light.  At  the 
boy's  birth  his  father's  ether  saluted  him  with  song ; 
as  he  sprang  from  the  childbed,  the  daughters  of 
Oceanos  cleansed  him,  Clymene's  son,  in  his  grand- 
sire's  waters,  and  wrapt  him  in  swaddlings.  The 
stars  in  shining  movement  leapt  into  the  stream  of 
Oceanos  which  they  knew  so  well,  and  surrounded 
the  boy,  with  Selene  our  Lady  of  Labour,  sending 
forth  her  sparkling  gleams.  Helios  gave  his  son  his 
own  name,  as  well  suited  the  testimony  of  his 
form ;  for  upon  the  boy's  shining  face  was  visible 
the  father's  inborn  radiance. 

155  "  Often  in  the  course  of  the  boy's  training 
Oceanos  would  have  a  pretty  game,  lifting  Phaethon 
on  his  midbelly  and  letting  him  drop  down  ;  he 
would  throw  the  boy  high  in  the  air,  rolling  over  and 
over  moving  in  a  high  path  as  quick  as  the  wander- 
ing wind,  and  catch  him  again  on  his  arm ;  then  he 
would  shoot  him  up  again,  and  the  boy  would  avoid 
the  ready  hand  of  Oceanos,  and  turn  a  somersault 
round  and   round   till   he   splashed  into    the    dark 

103 


NONNOS 

fidvTig  iov  davdroio-  yepoiv  8'  ij^fuoft  vtrjoat, 
Bca^aTa  yivwGKOJV,  nivirrrj  8*  tKpwJK  aiattrQ, 
fiT)  HXv^evrjs  <t>tX67raiBog  dnevdta  BufjiC^  dfjuifjl        l« 
TTLKpa  Trpodeani^ajv  ft>a€dovTidBo^  Au«o  Moifftif, 

Kat  Trats  dpriKOfuoros  c^c***'  dyiovXov  ^npifr 
7777  /Ltcv  €^9  KXvfJL€yrjs  Sd/ioi'  dfi^irt, 

irn  hi  tcai  aMjt 
QpivaKlr)9  Xeifiwva  fi€TTjuv,  iJx*  ^^H^*"^ 
Aafi7T€Tir)  7rap€fiifiv€,  /Soaj  Koi  /x^Aa  it>/icvair  ...  110 
-narpos  iov  {a^toio  <f>€pwv  iroOov  Tivtoxfjoft 
d^ova  TcxyT^^vTi  <nnn]pfioa€  Soupaat  btofup, 
KVKXwaas  rpoxocvra  rvnov  dKif&iqfiovi  Si^pm* 
daK-qaas  he  XcnaSva  Koi  dvBoKOfiwv  diro  «n7«(tfr 
TrAcf as"  AfTTToAcotat  Xvyois  rpiiXucrov  IpAaBXtp^        ITS 
dpveiois  TTLOvpoiai.  v€ovs  ene&rjKe  ;(aAivowf 
Kai  vodov  evTToiryrov  *Eo}a<^pov  d(TT€pa  rtv^botf 
dvdcGLv  dpycwolaLV,  laov  rpo\o€ih4i  kvkX^, 
67JK€V  irjs  npoKeXevdov  ivtcvi^fitBos  dirmnrj^, 
dcrrepos  *Ha>o(o  iJKpwv  rvnov  dfi^  ht  ;(cura4(        110 
opdiov  €vda  Koi  €v6a  <f>€pavy€a  BaXov  cpciba; 
i/jevSoficvaLS  ojcTiaiv  iov  fufieiro  roKrja, 
iTnrevwv  ar€<j>av7]h6v  aXiKnmov  dynrya  vnoov, 

'AAA*  6t*  dvrjilfjTO  <f>ipa)v  evdvBeyuov  ^pip^, 
TToXXaKL  naTpwrjs  ^Aoyo9  Tf^TO,  x^H^  ^  /^9         IM 
Kov<l)t,a€  Oepfid  AcTraSi'a  koi  darepoeaaav  ifuiavXff^, 
Kai  rpoxov  dpLxfyirroXeve ,  koX  dLfi^<uf>6<juv  64 flag  invtMrv 
Xtovdais  TToXdfjLTjaiv  iripnero  Kovpos  dSijpwv 
heliTcpfj  8*  itpavc  TwpL^Xrfroio  ;(aAi»x>u. 
fiaivero  8*  iTnToavvrj?  ficdinajv  noOov'  c^Oficvof  hi  ItO 
yovvaat  narpwois  iKc-rqaia  haxpua  Xelficjv 

•  The  island  (later  identified  with  Sidly)  wbct«  the 
1(H 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  163-191 

waters,  prophet  of  his  own  death.  The  old  man 
groaned  when  he  saw  it,  recognizing  the  divine  oracle, 
and  hid  all  in  prudent  silence,  that  he  might  not 
tear  the  happy  heart  of  Clymene  the  loving  mother 
by  foretelling  the  cruel  threads  of  Phaethon's  Fate. 

^^^  "  So  the  boy,  hardly  grown  up,  and  still  with  no 
down  on  his  lip,  sometimes  frequented  his  mother 
Clymene 's  house,  sometimes  travelled  even  to  the 
meadows  of  Thrinacia,"  where  he  would  often  visit  and 
stay  with  Lampetie,  tending  cattle  and  sheep  .  .  . 
There  he  would  long  for  his  father  the  charioteer 
divine ;  made  a  wooden  axle  with  skilful  joinery,  fitted 
on  a  sort  of  round  wheel  for  his  imitation  car,  fashioned 
yoke-straps,  took  three  light  withies  from  the  flower- 
ing garden  and  plaited  them  into  a  lash,  put  unheard- 
of  bridles  on  four  young  rams.  Then  he  made  a  clever 
imitation  of  the  morning  star  round  like  a  wheel,  out 
of  a  bunch  of  white  flowers,  and  fixed  it  in  front  of 
his  spokewheeled  waggon  to  show  the  shape  of  the  star 
Lucifer.  He  set  burning  torches  standing  about  his 
hair  on  every  side,  and  mimicked  his  father  with 
fictitious  rays  as  he  drove  round  and  round  the  coast 
of  the  seagirt  isle. 

^®*  "  But  when  he  grew  up  into  the  fair  bloom  of 
youth,  he  often  touched  his  father's  fire,  lifted  with 
his  little  hand  the  hot  yokestraps  and  the  starry 
whip,  busied  himself  with  the  wheel,  stroked  the 
horses'  coats  with  snow-white  hands — and  so  the  play- 
ful boy  enjoyed  himself.  With  his  right  hand  he 
touched  the  fireshotten  bridle,  mad  with  longing  to 
manage  the  horses.  Seated  on  his  father's  knees, 
he  shed  imploring  tears,  and  begged  for  a  run  with 

of  the  Sun  were,  see  Od,  xii.  127  ;  Lampetie  was  in  charge 
of  them. 

105 


NONNOS 

TJrcev  efiTTvpov  dpfia  koI  aldtplutv  bp6fio¥  li 
Kal  y€V€'n)g  av€V€V€V'  6  8e  nXtov  tfSti  fivvift 
alTL^ojv  X(,Tdv€V€'  7Taprjyof>€U}V  8*  ^iri  hi^^ 
vipiTTopu)  v€ov  via  (fi^oaropyw  ^ro  ^€Mfrj'  ■•• 

'  *Q.  T€KO?  *HeAcoto,  <f>iXov  ycwK  *ih(€a»wo, 
dXXo  yepas  fidarcve'  ri  aol  nort  hitftpo^    OXvfAWOV; 
LTrTToovvrjs  aKLxqTov  ca  hpofiov  ov  hwaaoi.  yap 
ldvv€(,v  ifJLov  dpp.a,  ro  -rrtp  fioyii  rfvioxtvio. 
ov  noTC  dovpos  "Aprj^  <f>\oy(pw  KtKopvaro  Ktpov¥tp,  Sflt 
dXXd  ficXos  adXTTiyyi  Kal  ov  fipovraiov  apdamv 
ov  ve^eXas  ''}\<l>ai<rros  €OV  y€V€Tijpo^  dycipct, 
ov  V€<t>€Xr]y€pd'n]s  KC/fA7}<7K€Tcu  ola  Kpoyuav, 
dXXd  Trap*  iaxap€cuvi  aibrjp€ov  ojcfiova  rvimi, 
dordfxaGt.  ttolt^toZoi  x€wv  TTOirfrov  arfrqv  Mi 

KVKVov  €X€i  rrrepoivra, 

Koi  ov  raxyv  Imrov  *\fr6XKumr 
ov  ar€po7rr)v  TTVpocaoav  d€/)Ta{ci  yo'cr^poj 
'Kpfirjs  pdphov  €X^Vt  ovK  aly&a  narpo^  d*ipt%, 
oAA*  ipecis'  "  Zayprji  irop^v  {rnii'drjpa  K€pav¥oQ"' 
Ziaypcvs  GKrjTTTOv  d(ip€,  Kal  <vfiiXr)G€V  dXidpt^.         tlO 
dt,€o  Kal  (TV,  reKoSy  rrai'Ofioua  TnjfiaTa  irdaxf^-* 

EItTC,    Kal    ov    7rap€7T€lG€- 

7rdt9  3c  y€vijTopa  vwrawp 
hdKpvGi  OcpjXOTepoLaiv  €ov^  cSiT^i'C  ;(4Ta;itxy 
;(6pCTt  he  TTaTpwTjs  (f>Xoy€prjg  c^auacv  VTrrjvtK, 
d/cAaSov  ev  SaTrcSoi  KVKXovp.€vov  avx^vo,  KOfiirrair,  SIA 
Xiaa6fi€Vos'  Kal  TraiSa  TraTrjp  cAcaipc  hoK€vat¥, 
Kal  KLwprj  KXvp,€vrj  ttXcov  rJT€€V'  avrdp  6  Btffup 
epLTTcSa  yLvcjGKCJV  dficTdTpoTTa  m^fiara  Mo^yv^ 
dGX(^X6coV  i7T€V€VG€V,  aTTOGfiij^as  &€   ;^iTa»ii 
fivpofidvov  ^aedovros  d/iciScos  op-Ppov  onurrr^        ISO 
XciXca  TrauBos  €kvgg€,  togtjv  8*  c^cyfaro  ^oMrffr 
106 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  192-221 

the  fiery  chariot  and  heavenly  horses.  His  father 
said  no,  but  he  only  begged  and  prayed  all  the  more 
with  gracious  pleading.  Then  the  father  said  in 
affectionate  words  to  his  young  son  in  the  highfaring 
car  ; 

196  *"  Dear  son  of  Helios,  dear  grandson  of  Oceanos, 
ask  me  another  boon  ;  what  have  you  to  do  with 
the  chariot  of  the  sky  ?  Let  alone  the  course  of 
horsemanship.  You  cannot  attain  it,  for  you  can- 
not guide  my  car — I  can  hardly  drive  it  myself ! 
Furious  Ares  never  armed  him  with  flaming  thunder- 
bolt, but  he  blares  his  tune  with  a  trumpet,  not 
with  thunder.  Hephaistos  never  collects  his  father's 
clouds  ;  he  is  not  called  Cloudgatherer  like  Cronion, 
but  hammers  his  iron  anvil  in  the  forge,  and  pours 
artificial  blasts  of  artificial  wind.  Apollo  has  a 
winged  swan,  not  a  running  horse.  Hermes  keeps 
his  rod  and  wears  not  his  father's  aegis,  lifts  not  his 
father's  fiery  lightning.  But  you  will  say — "  He 
gave  Zagreus  the  flash  of  the  thunderbolt."  Yes, 
Zagreus  held  the  thunderbolt,  and  came  to  his  death ! 
Take  good  care,  my  child,  that  you  too  suffer  not 
woes  like  his.* 

212  "So  he  spoke,  but  the  boy  would  not  listen  ; 
he  prodded  his  father  and  wetted  his  tunic  with 
hotter  tears.  He  put  out  his  hands  and  touched  his 
father's  fiery  beard ;  kneeling  on  the  ground  he  bent 
his  arched  neck,  pleading,  and  when  the  father  saw, 
he  pitied  the  boy.  Clymene  cried  and  begged  too. 
Then  although  he  knew  in  his  heart  the  immovable 
inflexible  spinnings  of  Fate,  he  consented  regretful, 
and  wiped  with  his  tunic  the  rain  of  tears  from  the 
unsmiling  face  of  sad  Phaethon,  and  kissed  the  boy's 
lips  while  he  said  : 

107 


NONVOS 

Za>8ta/cou  yXa<l>vpolo  7T€TrqyoT€S  avrvyi  kvkXov, 

K€KpHl€VOl    (TTOIXD^OV   CTnjTpiflOl,   oU   W  fwAuMf 

Xo^Tj  TTOvXvdXiKTos  aTapniTo^  €<m  ffAojnJrwr  ■• 

dcrradecjv.     /cat  €Ka<rrov  cAif  Kpovof  ohcC¥  dfulp€t 
€p7Tvt,uiv  papvyowos,  ceo?  /loyij  w/fi  rtXiatrg 
etKOGL  Kal  ScKa  KVKXa  TroAi^vocrroiO  ScAiJfi^, 
fc6i^9  ipSojid-n]^  vnkp  dvrvyo^'  u^K>^i  8*  f^mys' 
(hKvrepov  yevcT^pos  €)(€i,  bpofiov  dyritropof  Zcvr,    •• 
fcou  bpofiov  els  XuKd^OLvra  bUpx^Toi' 

€v  rpirdrn  5^  •  .  • 
TJfjLaaiv  i^-qKovra  napepx^Tai  tpLtrvpo^    Apffi, 
ycLTOJV  aeto  toktjos'  inavrtXXwv  Si  rrrdfrqj 
airros  iyd)  crT€(l>avr)S6v  oXov  noXov  dpftaat  r^fumt 
ovpavlcjv  ^KXlkcjv  iroXvKap.'nia  KVKXa  $uo«rair,  tM 

[xerpa  xpovov  TnmjprjGi  <l>€pa}v  kvkXovijl(vos  *Ct^KUf, 
TT^y  avrr^v  TTcpl  vvaaav,  lots  oXov  ohcov  oScuoci^f 
irXriaas  rjddSa  firjva  TcX€a<f>6pov'  ovS^  iroptlffw 
icoAAei^a;  dreXcarov  dnlxTrepov  otfAoy  dfL€ifiut, 
ovBe  ndXiv  npoKcXcvdov,  cVct  TroAuKO/xYr/cf  dAAoi    HO 
d(TT€p€S  dvrt.d4ovT€£  dct  <rr€ixov<TiV  dXijrai, 
dip  8*  dvaa€Lpd^ovT€s  d/ia  TTpoaaut  kox  owiaaw 
TjfiLTeXrj  fiedenovai,  TraXiXXura  /xcrpa  ircAcutfoii, 
SeyjJLevoL  dpxpordpwdev  ifirjv  mpoomrrov  alykqi^' 
ols  evL  XevKalvovaa  ttoXov  K^poeaoa  ^Xtf^  M0 

kvkXov  oXov  TrXrjaaaa  Go<f>w  nvpi  fJirjva.  Xoxaki, 
fi€Gao<f>avris,  iniKvpTos,  oXw  nX^ovaa  irpoowmtf 


"  i.e.  Saturn  takes  two  and  a  half  years  to  trai 
sign  (30°),  and  therefore  thirtj-  years  for  the  whole  Zodiac 

"  A  line  to  this  effect  has  perhaps  been  lost.  The  mMiitii^ 
is  very  odd :  Saturn  is  "  seventh,"  i^.  from  the  earth,  b«l 
Ares  "  third,"  i.e.  counting  from  Saturn. 

'  The  sun  (regarded  by  the  Greeks  as  a  planet)  never  l^ 
108 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  222-247 

222  '« '  There  are  twelve  houses  in  all  the  fiery  ether, 
set  in  the  circle  of  the  rounded  Zodiac,  one  close  after 
another  in  a  row,  each  separate ;  through  these  alone  is 
the  inclined  winding  path  of  the  restless  planets  rolling 
in  their  courses.  All  round  these  Cronos  crawls  from 
house  to  house  on  his  heavy  knees  along  the  seventh 
zone  upon  the  circle,  until  at  last  with  difficulty  he 
completes  thirty  circuits  of  returning  Selene.**  On 
the  sixth,  quicker  than  his  father,  Zeus  has  his  course 
opposite,  and  goes  his  round  in  a  Hchtgang.  By 
the  third,  fiery  Ares  passes  [one  sign  that  is,  of  the 
Zodiac  ^]  in  sixty  days,  near  your  father.  I  myself 
rise  in  the  fourth,  and  traverse  the  whole  sky  gar- 
land-wise in  my  car,  following  the  winding  circles 
of  the  heavenly  orbits.  I  carry  the  measures  of 
time,  surrounded  by  the  four  Seasons,  about  the  same 
centre,  until  I  have  passed  through  a  whole  house 
and  fulfilled  one  complete  month  as  usual ;  I  never 
leave  my  journey  unfinished  and  change  to  a  back- 
ward course,  nor  do  I  go  forward  again  ;  since  the 
other  stars,  the  planets,  in  their  various  courses 
always  run  contrary  ways  :  they  check  backwards, 
and  go  both  to  and  fro  ;  when  the  measures  of  their 
way  are  half  done  they  run  back  again,  thus  receiving 
on  both  sides  my  one-sided  light."  One  of  these 
planets  is  the  horned  moon  whitening  the  sky ;  when 
she  has  completed  all  her  circuit,  she  brings  forth 
with  her  wise  fire  the  month,  being  at  first  half  seen, 
then  curved,**  then  full  moon  with  her  whole  face. 

trogresses,  as  the  other  planets  appear  to  do  {dvaaeipdCovres). 
As  half  the  other  planets  (Including  the  moon)  are  above  and 
half  below  him  (on  the  geocentric  theory),  each  of  them  gets 
his  light  from  one  side  only. 

^  The  curving  outline  between  first  quarter  and  full  moon 
(Stegemann). 

109 


NONNOS 

Mrjvr)  8*  dvTLKeXevdos  eyw  ai^axprrfSoy  iXiaowtf 
fjLapfJLapiryrjv  OpeTrreipav  dfiaXXoroKov  ToirrroSd 
ZiohLaKTjv  TT€pl  vvooav  drtpyLOva  kvkXov  Ht^,       ■© 
TLKTCJV  fi€Tpa  xpovoio,  Kol  oiKoBev  ottcov  <f/if/jHw» 
Kol  reXeaas  €va  kvkXov  oXov  XuKofiayra  KO§u(/uf, 
cLKpa  8e  (Tuvheap-oLo  <f>vXdaa€o,  firi  ovcWr  ipmw¥f 

appacLv   Vp,€T€pOlS    t,0(f>0€lh€a   KUtVOV   €Xi(af, 

<f)€yyos  oXov  kAc^cici''  iiriaKiowy  aio  hv^pt^*  IW 

p^rjhe  7TapLTnT€VG€iag  iOT^fiovo^  dvrvya  tcvt(Xov' 

fir)S€  TavxmXiKTOJV  iXiKotv  iroXvKO^Trii  ^afi^, 

irevre  TrapaXXrjXiov  ScSokt^/kW?  dpTvya.  tcvtcXufV, 

olarpov  €;(ot9,  icat  vvooav  6pi'qd€a  narpof  idofji, 

fjLT^  o€  TrapanXdy^eiav  €v  aid  dpi  fftoiraAti  itrmH'       !•• 

firjhe  SiOTrrcvojv  bvoKaiB€Ka  KVxXa  nopfirf^ 

€K  Sd/Liou  619  ^6px>v  dXXov  €'n€iy€0'  hqX  ado  hl^^ 

Kptov  €(f>L7nT€Vcov  pLT)  Si^co  Tavpov  tXauvtw 

y€LTOva  fjLrj  fidorcvc  'Trpodyy€Xov  urTofioffo^ 

^Kopiriov  dcrr€p6<f>oiTov  xmo  TLxryov  r^vto')(€Wa¥f  ^^ 

€1  fJLTj  dva7TXT]0€ias  ieiKooi  Kol  B€Ka  fioipa^. 

oAAct  oif  fiev  kXv€  p,vdov'  iydt  S*  ac  Ttdpra  Si&i{a>. 

K€VTpOV   oXoV    KOOpiOlO, 

fi€o6fi<f>aXov  darpov  *0Ai;/iVOV, 
K/>iov  iyd)  pLidcTTcov  vipovfjL€vos  €lap  ddfw, 
Kal  TpoTTLKTjv  7,€<f>vpoio  7Tpodyy€Xov  dvTvya  fkkirwr,  tlO 
vvKTa  ToXavrevovoav  laopponov  'qpiy€V€ij), 

^  KXalifias  Stegemann :  icX^uv  l^dwich,  mm. 

"  Where  the  moon  cuts  the  ecliptic.  The  cooe  b  tiM 
conical  shadow  of  the  earth,  but  this  of  course  b  oa  the  iidt 
away  from  the  sun.     Nonnos  Ls  hopelcMly  oonfiaaed. 

"  The  arctic,  the  two  tropic,  the  equatorial  and  Ite 
antarctic  circles.  He  must  keep  betwrrn  the  tropkiu 
imaginary  parallel  circles  dra^-n  through  the  two  ■iilAfcil 
points  in  Cancer  and  Capricorn,  as  these  txnind  the 
110 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  248-271 

Against  the  moon  I  move  my  rolling  ball,  the 
sparkUng  nourisher  of  sheafproducing  growth,  and 
pass  on  my  endless  circuit  about  the  turning-point 
of  the  Zodiac,  creating  the  measures  of  time.  When 
I  have  completed  one  whole  circle  passing  from  house 
to  house  I  bring  off  the  lichtgang.  Take  care  of 
the  crossing-point  itself,"  lest  when  you  come  close, 
rounding  the  cone  of  darkness  with  your  car,  it 
should  steal  all  the  light  from  your  overshadowed 
chariot.  And  in  your  driving  do  not  stray  from  the 
usual  circuit  of  the  course,  or  be  tempted  to  leave 
your  father's  usual  goal  by  looking  at  the  five  parallel 
circles  ^  with  their  multiple  bond  of  long  encom- 
passing lines,  or  your  horses  may  run  away  and  carry 
you  through  the  air  out  of  your  course.  Do  not, 
when  you  look  about  on  the  twelve  circles  '^  as  you 
cross  them,  hurry  from  house  to  house.  When  you 
are  driving  your  car  in  the  Ram,  do  not  try  to  drive 
over  the  Bull.  Do  not  seek  for  his  neighbour,  the 
Scorpion  moving  among  the  stars,  the  harbinger  of 
the  plowtree,^  when  you  are  driving  under  the 
Balance,  until  you  complete  the  thirty  degrees.^ 

^'  **  *  Just  listen  to  me,  and  I  will  tell  you  every- 
thing. When  I  reach  the  Ram,  the  centre  f  of  the 
universe,  the  navel-star  of  Olympos,  I  in  my  exaltation 
let  the  Spring  increase  ;  and  crossing  the  herald  of 
the  west  wind,  the  turning-line  which  balances  night 
equal  with  day,  I  guide  the  dewy  course  of  that 

"  An  absurd  inaccuracy  for  the  12  signs. 

^  The  beginning  of  autumn  ploughing. 

*  The  distance  from  the  beginning  of  one  sign  to  the 
beginning  of  the  next  is  30  degrees.  What  follows  describes 
the  Sun's  yearly  course  through  the  Signs. 

f  More  absurdity  ;  Aries  is  the  starting-point  on  the  circle 
of  the  Zodiac,  not  the  centre  of  anything. 

Ill 


NONNOS 

Wvvo)  hpoaoevra  ;(€Ai5oi'tiy9  hpo^iov  'Ckfftn' 
Kptou  8*  avTt,K€X€vdov  €V€pr€pov  oIkov  aiitifitrnf, 
Xr]Xo.ls  €v  hibvfirjGiv  larjfupa  ^yyta  Wfivoir, 
ivTVvo)  TToXlvopao^  lao^vyov  ^/lop  d/A4j(Ap,  t1* 

/cat  Spofiov  €ivoai<t>vXXov  aym  ^iVOiwwpSof  *Pp<|f* 
<j)iyy€'C  fi€ioT€pw  x^^H'^vy  ^'^^  wooov  iXav¥ttw 
<t)vXXox6a)  ivl  fx-qvi  koI  avhpdai  yci^  KOfiH/Uf 
ofippiov  IxOuocvTos  im€p  pax^v  AiyoKtpijot, 
aypovopLOis  Iva  yaZa  ij>€p€afiia  hwpa  Xox^wrji,  ti© 

wfjL<t>lov  ofjippov  €xovaa  Kal  ciAct^viov  i4paT^¥' 
Koi  dipos  ivrvvo)  araxyrjKOfiov  ayy^^v  ofimnff, 
d€pp,oT€pais  aKTiai,  Twptj^a  ycuav  tfMaaw¥, 
vipiTcvTjs  napa  vvaaav  or    ciV  ^pofiov  ^MO^^cvoi 
KapKLVov,  dirnK€X€v6ov  aSaXnw  Alyotftpijot ,  IN 

ap,<l>oT€povs  KoX  NeiAoi'  opuov  koX  fiorpw  (uifoir. 
dpxop.€vos  3c  Spofioio  fi€r€px(o  ytirova  K/prip, 
^u}a(f)6pov  aTrAavco?  ficOtnajv  nofiirfja  KtXtv&ov, 
Imroavvrjs  'npoK€\€vdov'  afjLoiPaCjj  &€  noptljj 
(jov  SpojjLov  Wuvovai  SucoSc/ca  KVKXdStf  *Qpeu.*        MO 

*Qj  CLTTCJv  ^addovTos  €7T€aTijpi(€  Kafnjjytft 
Xpvaelrjv  rpu^oActav,  cat  S4  fuv  corc^  nvpQt^, 
cTrrarovovs  aKrlvas  cVt  nXoKOfiouTiv  iXifas, 
KVKXcoaas  GT€<f>airr)S6v  cV*  tf  ui  XcvKoSa  fiirfnpr 
Kal  fiLv  dv€xXaCvaja€v  ca>  nvpoevrt  ;(ira»M,  m 

/cat    TToSa    <t>OLviaGOVTl    hl€G<l>l^KUHT€    TTC&cA^. 

TraiSt  Sc  hi<f>pov  cScu/cc  #cai  ij<ii»y9  airo  ^tki^ 

iTTTTOu?  'HcAtoto  TTvpwScas  TJyayov  *Qpai' 

Koi  dpaavs  elg  ^iryov  -^XOcv  'EAjJO<f>6po^, 

dpu<f>i  b^  ^oApt^ 

hnriov  oi);^ewi  hovXov  iireKXTjurac  XeirdSvip,  900 

Kai  ^aiBwv  incBaivc'  SiBou  S4  oi  i)Wa  «<£JUciv, 
•  The  summer  solstice.  »  C/.  xvi.  45. 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  272-SOl 

Season  when  the  swallow  comes.  Passing  into  the 
lower  house,  opposite  the  Ram,  I  cast  the  hght  of 
equal  day  on  the  two  hooves ;  and  again  I  make  day 
balanced  equally  with  dark  on  my  homeward  course 
when  I  bring  in  the  leafshaking  course  of  the  autumn 
Season,  and  drive  with  lesser  light  to  the  lower  turning- 
point  in  the  leafshedding  month.  Then  I  bring  winter 
for  mankind  with  its  rains,  over  the  back  of  fishtailed 
Capricorn,  that  earth  may  bring  forth  her  gifts  full 
of  life  for  the  farmers,  when  she  receives  the  bridal 
showers  and  the  creative  dew.  I  deck  out  also  corn- 
tending  summer  the  messenger  of  harvest,  flogging 
the  wheatbearing  earth  with  hotter  beams,,  while  I 
drive  at  the  highest  point  of  my  course  "  in  the  Crab, 
who  is  right  opposite  to  the  cold  Capricorn  :  both 
Nile  and  grapes  together  I  make  to  grow. 

287  "  '  When  you  begin  your  course,  pass  close  by  the 
side  of  Cerne,*  and  take  Lucifer  as  guide  to  lead  the 
way  for  your  car,  and  you  will  not  go  astray  ;  twelve 
circhng  Hours  '^  in  turn  will  direct  your  way.' 

^^  "  After  this  speech,  he  placed  the  golden  helmet 
on  Phaethon's  head  and  crowned  him  with  his  own 
fire,  winding  the  seven  rays  like  strings  upon  his  hair, 
and  put  the  white  kilt  girdlewise  round  him  over 
his  loins  ;  he  clothed  him  in  his  own  fiery  robe  and 
laced  his  foot  into  the  purple  boot,  and  gave  his 
chariot  to  his  son.  The  Seasons  brought  the  fiery 
horses  of  Helios  from  their  eastern  manger  ;  Lucifer 
came  boldly  to  the  yoke,  and  fastened  the  horses' 
necks  in  the  bright  yokestraps  for  their  service. 

^^  "  Then  Phaethon  mounted,  Helios  his  father  gave 

'^  The  Sun  has  twelve  minor  hours  attendant  upon  him, 
which  are  elsewhere  assigned  to  the  months,  here  clearly  to 
the  hours  of  the  day. 

VOL.  Ill  I  113 


NONNOS 

rjvla  iiapyLaipovra  koX  cuyA^aoav  l^iaaBhff 
'HcAto?  y€V€T7)s'  rpofi€pfj  5*  iXtXilrro  ovyj, 
vUa  yiviooKijjv  fjuwwpioi"  €yyv$i  h'  ^X^W 
7)iJLL<t>av7)g  KXvfjL€vr)  <j>Xoytpwv  €irifii/jiropa  il^pfm^      MS 

h€pKOll€Vq    <l>lX6r€KVO^   CTToAAcTO   X^^pfiOTX  fUJfTI^* 

"HSry  8c  8/>oao€t9  dfiapvoa€ro  ^^wo^6pos  ion^p, 
Kal  Oae^cuv  a^cVcAAci'  'EiuioH  cutv)^  fiaimt^, 
vSaat,  TTaTTTTiLoiai  X€\oufi€vo^  *Chc€aj^04O. 
Kcu  Opacrvg  €v<f>a€ajv  tXarrfp  u0t5po/iO9  hnnt¥  S|0 

ovpavov  iaKOTTia^c  X^P*i*  Kixapaywli-ov  aor/Mur* 
eTTTci  TTcpt  Jcuvat?  icvkAov/x£vov'  cIScv  aAijraf 
avTLTTopQvg,  Koi  yalav  oyuoliov  thpojct  Ktyrpift 
fjLcaaoTTayij f  8oAt;^(7iv  aw^twdtiaav  ^piirvan, 
TTavrodi  TTVpyiodiLGav  xmwpo<f>ioiaiv  arfnu^*  31A 

/cat  7Torap.oi)9  GKonia^tt  kcu  6<f>pva^  'Qkcomno 
a0  dyaacipafovTos"  lov  poov  €is  coi'  uScup. 

"O^pa  fi€V  ofifia  riraiv€v 

€?  aW€pa  KoX  ;^uaiv  aoTMur 
/cat  x^^^^s  aloXa  (f)vXa  Kal  aarara  vatra  BaXiaai^, 
TTaTTraivojv  iXiKrjSov  artpfiovos  cSpava  KOOfiov'        UQ 
T6<f>pa  8c  hLvrid€vr€s  vno  ^vyov  alBoit€s  Imroi 
Za)8ta/cou  TrapdficiPov  c^tJ/xoi-oj  aiTirya  fCUfcAov. 
/cat  ^aedcov  d8i8a/cTos',  €;(cu>'  7rvp6€Gaav  IfuiaBXtp', 
<f>aiv€ro^  /xaorifoiv  X6<f>ov  iTrmov  ol  hi  fuuf^mt, 
KevTpov  xmo'nrriaaovT€s  d<f>€iB€o^  rfvio)(fjo9,  m 

dpxalrjs  diKovT€s  xmkp  PaXfiBa  k€X€v6ov 
d^ovLTjv  napd  vvaaav  dXrjfiov€9  €rp€Xpv  cmroi, 

8€;^VU/LtCVOl    KTVTTOV    oXXoV    €$TlfJLOVOS    TjVtOxfjOi, 

Koi  NoTtov  TTapd  T€pp.a  KOX  dpKTta  vurra  Sopijof 

-^v  kXovos.     ovpavLct)  S€  7rapiardfi€i'ai  TruAcom  ffff 

oAAo^avcj  v66ov  -^fiap  iOdfiP^ov  etmoSts  ^Qptu* 

^  So  Mss.  I  Ludwich  /Mu»«r». 
114 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  302-331 

him  the  reins  to  manage,  shining  reins  and  gleaming 
whip  :  he  shook  in  trembhng  silence,  for  he  under- 
stood that  his  son  had  not  long  to  Hve.  Clymene 
his  mother  could  be  half  seen  near  the  shore,"  as  she 
watched  her  dear  son  mounting  the  flaming  car,  and 
shook  with  joy. 

307  "  Already  Lucifer  was  sparkling,  that  dewy  star, 
and  Phaethon  rose  traversing  the  eastern  ambit,  after 
his  bath  in  the  waters  of  Oceanos  his  grandsire.  The 
bold  driver  of  brilliant  horses,  running  on  high, 
scanned  the  heavens  dotted  with  the  company  of  the 
stars,  girdled  about  by  the  seven  Zones  ;  he  beheld 
the  planets  moving  opposite,  he  saw  the  earth  fixed 
in  the  middle  like  a  centre,  uplifted  on  tall  cliffs  and 
fortified  on  all  sides  by  the  winds  in  her  caverns,  he 
scanned  the  rivers,  and  the  brows  of  Oceanos,  driving 
back  his  own  water  into  his  own  stream. 

318  **  While  he  directed  his  eye  to  the  upper  air  and 
the  flood  of  stars,  the  diverse  races  of  earth  and  the 
restless  back  of  the  sea,  gazing  round  and  round  on 
the  foundations  of  the  infinite  universe,  the  shining 
horses  rolled  along  under  the  yoke  over  their  usual 
course  through  the  zodiac.  Now  inexperienced 
Phaethon  with  his  fiery  whip  could  be  seen  flogging 
the  horses'  necks  ;  they  went  wild  shrinking  under  the 
goad  of  their  merciless  charioteer,  and  all  unwilling 
they  ran  away  over  the  limit  of  their  ancient  road 
beyond  the  mark  of  the  zodiac,  expecting  a  different 
call  from  their  familiar  driver.  Then  there  was  tumult 
along  the  bounds  of  the  South  and  the  back  of  the 
North  Wind ;  the  quickfoot  Seasons  at  the  celestial 

*  i.e.  she  was  up  to  her  waist  in  water. 

115 


NONNOS 

€Tpe/x€  8*  ripiy€V€ia'  Kal  laxc  ^wa4^pot  ioHj^ 
'  n^  Repeat,  ^tAe  K-ovf)*  ; 

Tt  fxaiWcu  fmrw  iXaAw^; 
<l>€iS€o  crfj9  fidcmYos  ayn^vopo^'  o/x^or/pcdr  M 
TrAafo/xcWv  7rc<^uAa|o  #fa4  dfrAai^W  X^'P^  Sarpct^g 
fiTj  Spaavs  *^pLwv  a€  KaTotcrtivtu  fiaxfUfffl, 
ixri  poTToXw  TwpoevTi  yipoiv  TrAiJfcu  Boctfn|ff« 
irXayKTris  8*  Imrocvvr)^  cti  ^Sko,  firfid  at 
yaaripi  rvp.p€VG€i€V  €V  aW^pi  Krjrof  *OAi^l 
fir)8€  (7€  haLTp€va€i€  \€U)V,  71  Tavpo^  *OAi^^Mrov 
auxcva  Kvprdtaa^  (f>Xoy€pjj  TrATjfcu  Ktpaiff 
a^co  To$€irrfjpa,  riraivofiairji  dno  vtvprjs 

firj  x^-os  oAAo  ycvoiTO,  koI  ald€pos  darpa  ^atftbl 
TJfjLaros  tora/xcVoio,  fi€arifiPpi^oyTi  &^  ^*^p^ 
dararos  r)piy€V€i,a  ouvovrTjactc  ScAiJvjj.* 
*^9  <f>apL€vov  ^aiBiov  irXtov  iJAoacv, 

ap/ia  irap^XKum 
€19  NoTOV,   ctff  3op€r)v, 

7,€<f>vpov  GX^Sov,  iyYV$€V  EJpov. 
/cat  kX6vo9  aWcpos  ^€v,  aKtm/jroio  o<  KOOfuw 
dpfjiovirjv  iriva^ev'  ihoxjutiST)  8€  koX  avroi 
aldipi  Stvijcvrt  p.€aos  r€ropr)p,€vos  d(ojv, 
Kal  yioyis  avrodXiKTov  €Xa<f>pi^wv  rroXov  oorpciir 
oKXaSov  ianjpLKTo  Aij^i;?  Kvprrovp.€\'o^  "ArAay, 
/icifova  (f>6pTov  €x<J^v-  Kal  urqp.€pov  c/rrotfcv 'A/mttov 
Ku/cAov  €7n^v(x)v  eXiKwSei  yaartpos  oXxtft 
avvhpofxos  darepocvTi  ApaKwv  €7r€<Tvput€  Tavpq^, 
Kal  Kvvl  a€LpidovTL  Acwv  Ppvxrjoaro  Xaifup, 
alOipa  Oepfialvujv  fiaXcpw  twpi,  koX  Bpaavs  fon| 
KapKLvov  oKraTToSrjv  kXovcojv  Xaaiorpixi  rraXfit^' 
ovpavLov  §€  AcovTOs  oirmBihiw  Trapd  rapot^ 
116 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  332-360 

gate  wondered  at  the  strange  and  unreal  day,  Dawn 
trembled,  and  star  Lucifer  cried  out. 

333  "  '  Where  are  you  hurrying,  dear  boy  ?  Why 
have  you  gone  mad  with  reins  in  your  hand  ?  Spare 
your  headstrong  lash  !  Beware  of  these  two  com- 
panies— both  planets  and  company  of  fixed  stars,  lest 
bold  Orion  kill  you  with  his  knife,  lest  ancient  Bootes 
hit  you  with  fiery  cudgel.  Spare  this  wild  driving, 
and  let  not  the  Olympian  Whale  entomb  you  in  his 
belly  in  high  heaven ;  let  not  the  Lion  tear  you  to 
pieces,  or  the  Olympian  Bull  arch  his  neck  and  strike 
you  with  fiery  horn !  Respect  the  Archer,  or  he 
may  kill  you  with  a  firebarbed  arrow  from  his  drawn 
bowstring.  Let  there  not  be  a  second  chaos,  and 
the  stars  of  heaven  appear  at  the  rising  day,  or 
erratic  Dawn  meet  Selene  at  noonday  in  her  car  !  ' 

^'  "  As  he  spoke,  Phaethon  drove  harder  still, 
drawing  his  car  aside  to  South,  to  North,  close  to  the 
West,  near  to  the  East.  There  was  tumult  in  the  sky 
shaking  the  joints  of  the  immovable  universe  :  the 
very  axle  bent  which  runs  through  the  middle  of  the 
revolving  heavens.  Libyan  Atlas  could  hardly  sup- 
port the  selfrolling  firmament  of  stars,  as  he  rested  on 
his  knees  with  bowed  back  under  this  greater  burden. 
Now  the  Serpent  scraped  vdih  his  WTithing  belly  the 
equator  far  away  from  the  Bear,  and  hissed  as  he  met 
with  the  starry  Bull ;  the  Lion  roared  out  of  his  throat 
against  the  scorching  Dog,  heating  the  air  with  raven- 
ing fire,  and  stood  boldly  to  attack  the  eight  claws  of 
the  Crab  with  his  shaggy  hair  bristling,  while  the 
heavenly  Lion's  thirsty  tail  flogged  the  Mrgin  hard  by 

117 


NONNOS 

Uapddvow  dyx^KtXevOov  €yidan4  Sufuof  o^f^' 
KovpTj  8c  7Tr€p6€aaa  Trapdi^aaa  Bocurnv 
d^ovos  iyyvs  LKai'€  Kal  d}fiiXrfiT€¥  'Afiafji' 
Kal  SxmKTjv  trapa  vvaaav  dXrjfAOPa  ^A^^fO  fr4l 
"Ecmepov  dvTiKeXfvOov  'Eoxr^pof  tiB^w  in9V^fr     Ml 
TrAafcTo  8*  iJpiycWta'  Kal  rfiohof  airrX  AayttoB 
^€Lpt,09  aWaX6€i,s  ihpd^aro  Sulxibof  *AptCTem* 
bLxdd  be  /caAAct0arrc9,  o  f^cv  N(m>v,  St  M  BajpifOv 
'Ix^w€9  a<rr€pO€VT€9  €'n€aKiprnfaiiy  'OAvfiwi^, 
yctVopc?  *T8poxooto-  KvpiarrjTrjpi  8^  9raA|i^  •!• 

avvSpofios  AiyoKcpfjo^  cAxf  cupy^craro  AcAf^r* 
/cat  NoTirj?  cXitcqbov  dnoirXayxB€vra  KtXtMm 
^Kopnlov  dyxiKcXcvdov,  €rJ9  fpavovra  yjavolfffff^ 

€Tp€p,€V    *Q.pUx)V    Kal    €V    doTpaGl,   flTj    fipoOVf    tpfWUm 

aKpa  nohwv  fuacic  to  ^VT€pov  d^ii  tchnpi^'  tn 

Koi  aeXas  rjp.LT€X€aTov  dTroTrrvovaa  nooaumov 
dnpoKcXaivLoojaa  p.€arjpLPpidi  dv6op€  Mt/wj* 
ov  yap  vTTOKXdTTTovGa  vodov  acAa;  dpatvt  nvoa^ 
dvTLTTopov  ^addovTog  d^idXytro  avyyovov  euvAi^* 
nAT^taSo?  8c  <l>aLXayyos  cAi^f  €7rrdar€pos  rp(w  StO 

ovpavov  eTrrd^ajvov  €'n€pp€fi€  KVKXd&i  ^urtrj' 
Kal  KTVTTov  aldvaaovT€s  urqpidfiwv  dno  XaifiAur 
dure  pes  dvridiovTes  cpaK^evdrjaav  dXijrai' 
Zrjva  pL€v  oJ^cc  KvTTpis,  'Apr]s  Kpovov,  tiaparfff  M 
riAciaSos'  iyyvs  iKavev  €px>s  luravdarvot  aar^,      JM 
darpaai  8*  i-TTra-nopois  Kcpdaas  €fnf>vXiov  aXykijv 
rjfjn,(f>av7js  avcTcAAcv  c/xij  Trapd  firjrepi  Maijj, 
'Apfxaros  ovpavioio  napdrpano^,  ^  v(kt¥  aUX 

"  Leo  lashed  his  tail  so  hard  that  it  hit  the  nest 
tion,  Virgo  ? 

*  "  Thirsty,"  because  it  nerer  sets  and  ao 
water. 

118 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  361-388 

his  hind  leg,**  and  the  winged  Maiden  darting  past 
the  Waggoner  came  near  the  pole  and  met  the  Wain. 
The  Morning  Star  sent  forth  his  straying  light  in  the 
setting  region  of  the  West  and  pushed  away  the 
Evening  Star  who  met  him  there.  Dawn  wandered 
about ;  blazing  Sirius  grabbed  the  thirsty  Bear  ^ 
instead  of  his  usual  Hare.  The  two  starry  Fishes 
left  one  the  South  and  one  the  North,  and  leapt  in 
Olympos  near  Aquarius  ;  the  Dolphin  danced  in  a 
ring  and  tumbled  about  with  Capricorn.  Scorpios 
also  had  wandered  around  from  the  southern  path 
until  he  came  near  to  Orion  and  touched  his  sword — 
Orion  trembled  even  among  the  stars,  lest  he  might 
creep  up  slowly  and  pierce  his  feet  once  again  with 
a  sharp  sting."  The  Moon  leapt  up  at  midday, 
spitting  off  the  half-completed  light  from  her  face  and 
growing  black  on  the  surface,  for  she  could  no  longer 
steal  the  counterfeit  light  from  the  male  torch  of 
Phaethon  opposite  and  milk  out  his  inborn  flame. 
The  sevenstar  voices  of  the  Pleiades  rang  circling 
round  the  sevenzone  sky  with  echoing  sound  ;  the 
planets  from  as  many  ^  throats  raised  an  outcry  and 
rushed  wildly  against  them.  Cypris  pushed  Zeus, 
Ares  Cronos  *  ;  my  own  wandering  star  ^  approached 
the  Pleiad  of  Spring,  and  mingling  a  kindred  light 
with  the  seven  stars  he  rose  halfseen  beside  my 
mother  Maia — he  turned  away  from  the  heavenly 
chariot,  beside  which  he  always  runs  or  before  it  in  the 

"  When  he  was  on  earth,  Orion  was  killed  by  the  sting  of  a 
huge  scorpion,  and  the  two  constellations  commemorate  this. 

**  Presumably  six  ;  one  planet,  the  Sun,  was  otherwise 
engaged.  There  are  six  Pleiades,  omitting  the  one  (Electra) 
which  is  too  dim  to  see  clearly. 

*  Venus,  Jupiter,  Mars,  Saturn. 

^  The  planet  Mercury. 

119 


NONNOS 

avvhpofios  rj  npoKeXevBo^  cciioy,  iim^ptat  W 
'HcAiou  hvvovTos  oTTioTtpa  ^'yyfo  n^fimr 

Kai  fJLLVy    OT€    BpOfJLOV    toOV   €X<^V    MfJUHpOf   <0€^l« 

'HcAiou  Kpahlrjv  €7T€<l>Tjfiiaav  iBfiovt^  aarpuMr 
Kal  Spoacpals  vi^Beaai  hidfipoxov  euJ^A^  Tf6«(gr 
wfjL<t>Los  Evpwirqs  fjLVKTJaaro  TaCpof  *OAi^«oVf 
€tV  Spofiov  opOcLxras  noSa  irofiTruAov*  ofvrfi4f  M 
8ox/xa>cra9  Oa^^oi^i  Wpa;  Aofotb  furtatrov 
ovpavir)v  <t)Xoy€pjjatv  CTrcimwcv  arrvyo  )(i}Aa2r* 
/cat  dpaavs  c/c  /coAcotb  napi^pov  aidoni  fiffp^ 
^ClpUvv  ^i<f)os  €IXk€'  KoXavpona  ttoAAc  BoorrTf* 
Kttt  TToSoj  darpaioio  pL€Tdpaia  youvara  naXXtMi¥ 
Uriyaaos  €x/)€/x€TtJc,  kcu  aWvaawv  iroXov  omkj 
r)p,i,<f>avr)g  Ai^vs  LTmos  inerptx^  y^iroyt  Kwa^, 

Kal    KOT€(JJV   TTTCpa    TToAAcV,    OTTW^   TToAtV   I^VtOX^ 

dXXov  aKovTiaa€i€v  an    ald^pos,  ola  irol  oiMr 
avrvyos  ovpavij]^  aneaciaaTo  B^AAcpo^cWip^. 
ovKiri  8*  vtftnropoio  Bopeia3o9  lyyvdi  vvotnii 
aXXrjX.u)v  €x6p€vov  tV*  tfui  #ci;«cAa$€9  "A/iicro*, 
oAAct  NoTa>  pilayovTo,  Kal  'E<m€pijj  napa  XifLyji 
d^poxov  t^vo?  €Xovaav  arj6€OS  *ilK€CLv6iO. 

Zcus"  §€  na-r-qp  ^aiSovra  Kar€'npfrfvi^€  tctpavif^ 
v^lfodev  avTOKvXiarov  vnep  poov  *H/M5ayoib* 
h-qGas  8'  dppiovlrjv  7TaXivdyp€rov  tJXlki  5ca/x^ 
tTTTTOUS'  'HcAioj  TToXiv  wTTaacv,  ald^piov  hk 
dvroXlr)  iropev  dpjia,  Kal  dpxair)  Troipa  vvaajj 
dfJL<l>L7ToXoi  ^aeOovTOs  iir^Tp^xov  ci^oSc;  ^Ctptu, 
yala  hk  irdaa  ycAaaac  to  S€VT€pov'  'q€p66€y  Si 
Ja>OTOKou  Ato?  ofiPpog  oAaj  €Kd$rjp€v  dpovpa^, 
Kol  Siepfj  paddfiiyyi  Kar€o^€Q€  nvpadv  aAi/np« 
120 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  389-418 

morning,  and  in  the  evening  when  Helios  sets  he  sends 
liis  following  light,  and  because  he  keeps  equal  course 
with  him  and  travels  with  equal  portion,  astronomers 
have  named  him  the  Sun's  Heart.  Europa's  bride- 
groom the  Olympian  Bull  bellowed,  stretching  his 
neck  drenched  with  damp  snowflakes ;  he  raised  a 
foot  curved  for  a  run,  and  inclining  his  head  sideways 
with  its  sharp  horn  against  Phaethon,  stamped  on  the 
heavenly  vault  with  fiery  hooves.  Bold  Orion  drew 
sword  from  sheath  hanging  by  his  glowing  thigh  ; 
Bootes  shook  his  cudgel  ;  Pegasos  neighed  rearing 
and  shaking  the  knees  of  his  starry  legs — halfseen  <* 
the  Libyan  courser  trod  the  firmament  with  his  foot 
and  galloped  towards  the  Swan  his  neighbour,  angrily 
flapping  his  wings,  that  again  he  might  send  another 
rider  hurtling  down  from  the  sky  as  he  had  once 
thrown  Bellerophontes  himself  out  of  the  heavenly 
vault.*  No  longer  the  circling  Bears  danced  back  to 
back  beside  the  northern  turningpost  on  high ;  but 
they  passed  to  the  south,  and  bathed  their  unwashen 
feet  in  the  unfamiliar  Ocean  beside  the  western  main. 
*io  "  Then  Father  Zeus  struck  down  Phaethon  with 
a  thunderbolt,  and  sent  him  rolling  helplessly  from 
on  high  into  the  stream  of  Eridanos.  He  fixed  again 
the  joints  which  held  all  together  with  their  primeval 
union,  gave  back  the  horses  to  Helios,  brought  the 
heavenly  chariot  to  the  place  of  rising  ;  and  the  agile 
Hours  that  attended  upon  Phaethon  followed  their 
ancient  course.  All  the  earth  laughed  again.  Rain 
from  Hfebreeding  Zeus  cleared  all  the  fields,  and  with 
moist  showers  quenched  the  wandering  fires,  all  that 

°  The  figure  of  the  constellation  shows  only  the  front  half 
of  the  heavenly  horse,  here  called  Pegasos. 

*  When  he  tried  to  ride  to  heaven  on  Pegasos's  back. 

121 


NONNOS 

oaaov  €7tI  ySova  iraaav  ipu^Xty^wv  dvo  AntfuQm 
ovpavodev  ;(/>€/x€^oi^€y  arrtirrvow  a20oircf  Tmoc. 
'HA109  3*  av€r€XX€  TToXlvhpo^iov  dpfia  PO§iMihmr 
Kal  GTTopos  r)€^rjro,  naXiy  5*  tytXaaoav  iXual, 
h€xyvfi€vai  npoTtfyqv  Purrqatov  aiB4fiOf  oTyAi^. 

7j€VS  hk  na-rffp  ^aiSovra  Kar€an^pi(€¥  *OAilyiP|i 
cLKeXov  'Hvi6)(a)  kcu  €7rwyvfJU}V'  o^pdy%o¥  M 
irrj^^e'i  fiapfialpovri  G€Xaa^pou  'Apfia  Ttrabfmif 
els  hpofjLov  aiaaovTos  c^^t  rvnov  *\\vioxff>i, 
ota  rrdXiv  TToOewv  kcu  €v  darpaatv  apfia  roir^of . 
Kal  TTorafxos  nvpiKavros  avi^Xv$€v  €iV  mUor  &npom 
Zr)v69  enanrqaayros,  iv  aarepotvTi  hk  taStcXtf 
^Hpihavov  TTvpoevTos  cAuxacTcu  ayKvXov  vSciip. 

r»'a>Tat  8'  (xiKvp-opoio  beSovnorof  ^y*oxf)Oi 
€(?  <f>irr6v  elhos  dfi€nl/av,  oSvpofitvwv  5*  air^  hdf^ptm 
d(l>V€t.rjv  TTCToAotai  KaToaraXdovatv  i^porpt," 


122 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXVIII.  419-434 

the  glowing  horses  had  spat  whinnying  from  their 
flaming  throats  out  of  the  sky  over  all  the  earth. 
Helios  rose  driving  his  car  on  his  road  again  ;  the 
crops  grew,  the  orchards  laughed  again,  receiving 
as  of  yore  the  life-giving  warmth  from  the  sky. 

^24  "  But  Father  Zeus  fixed  Phaethon  in  Olympos, 
like  a  Charioteer,  and  bearing  that  name.  As  he 
holds  in  the  radiant  Chariot  of  the  heavens  with 
shining  arm,  he  has  the  shape  of  a  Charioteer  starting 
upon  his  course,  as  if  even  among  the  stars  he  longed 
again  for  his  father's  car.  The  fire-scorched  river  also 
came  up  to  the  vault  of  the  stars  with  consent  of 
Zeus,  and  in  the  starry  circle  rolls  the  meandering 
stream  of  burning  Eridanos," 

*32  "  But  the  sisters  of  the  charioteer  fallen  to  his 
earl/  death  changed  their  shape  into  trees,  and  from 
the  weeping  trees  they  distil  precious  dew  ^  out  of 
their  leaves." 

«  The  Milky  Way.  »  Amber. 


123 


AIONTSIAKnN  TPIAKOSTON  ENATON 

'Ev  he  rpiriKoarw  evarat  fura  tcvfiara  Xtvaatit 
/^T)pi,dbr)v  <l>€vyovTa  TwpiffXeyttov  aroXov  *lv6uf¥, 

*Q?  eiTTCjv  oKLxriTOs  cy  ovpavov  7JXu$€V  'Ef^^, 
;(ap/xa  Xlttwv  Kal  davfia  Koaiyirqrtft  ^aavvat^, 

OLKoofi'qrratv  ;fW(nv  ^jtrrpta¥ 
ddfiPee  Koi  Oac^oin-a  Sc&otmara,  ttw^  napa  KcAro^ 
*KcrTT€pla)  TTvpiKavros  inioXiaBrjae  p€€dp<p, 
T6<f>pa  8c  vrjes  iKavov  ctttJAuScj,  ay  M.  n6trnp 
GTOLxo-has  Wvvovres  €s  'Ap€a  vavfAa)(ov  *lv66t¥ 
dKXvoTO)  *PaSafjLdv€9  cVairrtAAoi^o  BaXaatrg, 
TTOVTOV  dfJLOipairjaiv  €TnppTJaaoin'€^  tpoMUf 
VGjiLvrjs  iXarrjpes'  cVciyo/xcVoi  8c  Avalut 
oA/cacTtv  amrt^ois'  cVcoupiac  nofino^  aijny^. 
/cat  Au/co?  7)y€fi6v€V€V  €v  vSaoL  buf>pov  tXawut^f 
ImTeiaig  dxdpaKTov  inL^vojt'  poov  onXaxs, 

Arjpt,dSr]^  8*  aTTcAc^/x)?  imtprepo^  wjtodi  nvpyom 
€G(TVii€VOiv  v€(f>€Xr)b6v  ibcpKCTo  Aat^a  inTOfl' 
6<f>daXfiip  KOT€ovTi,  Kal  a»s"  imipoTrXo^  djcovow, 
iypcfJLodovs  oTt  joja?  'Apcup  ropvtoaaro  riKTurv, 
a>p.oG€v  vXoTOfioiGLv  dyciv  * Apd^eaaiv  *E.vtHu, 
Kal  TToXiv  'qTT€iXrja€v  cuorcaaai  AvKoopyov, 
124 


BOOK  XXXIX 

In    the    thirty-ninth,  you  see   Deriades    after   the 
flood  trying  to  desert  the  host  of  fire- 
blazing  Indians. 

This  story  told,  Hermes  went  into  the  heavens 
unapproachable,  leaving  joy  and  amazement  to  his 
brother  Dionysos. 

3  While  Bacchos  was  wondering  still  at  the  con- 
fusion of  the  disordered  stars,  and  Phaethon's 
fall,  how  he  slipt  down  among  the  Celts  into  the 
Western  river,  firescorched,  the  foreign  ships  were 
arriving,  which  the  Rhadamanes  had  been  navi- 
gating over  the  tranquil  sea,  guiding  their  columns 
on  the  deep  towards  the  Indian  War  of  ships, 
splashing  into  the  deep  with  alternating  motions, 
oarsmen  of  battle  ;  to  suit  the  haste  of  Lyaios, 
a  following  wind  whistled  against  the  ships.  And 
Lycos  led  them  driving  his  car  over  the  waters,  and 
skimmed  over  the  flood,  where  the  horses'  hooves 
left  no  mark. 

1*  But  gigantic  Deriades  high  on  his  battlements 
saw  with  angry  eye  the  sails  of  the  ships  like  a  cloud ; 
and  in  his  overweening  pride,  as  he  heard  that  an 
Arabian  shipwright  had  built  battle-rousing  ships,  he 
swore  to  make  war  on  the  woodcutting  Arabs,  and 
threatened  to  mow  down  the  Rhadamanes  with  de- 

125 


NONNOS 

dfirjaas  'PaSa/idmj  aXotrp^pi  at^ptft. 
Kal  OToXov  ddprjuavTe^  drap/Wcy  4rp€fiO¥    Ivool, 
"Apca  -nairraivovrt^  dXiKTimov,  dxpi  koa  airoQ 
yovvara  ToXfi'^evros  iXvtro  ^rjpiaaTfOi' 
TTOLTfTOj  8c  yeXcuTi  yaXrjvauHO  itpoaanrtm 
*\vh6s  dva$  cVcAcuaf  TptrfKoaiutv  ano  r/jpmf 
^S"  iX€(l>avToPaToio  napd  a^vpa  Svafiara  yolff 
Xaov  dy€iv'  Kal  Kpaiirvo^  <V  drpatrw  rj*4  «*"'' 
TToaal  TToXvyvafiirroiaiv  dno  x^ovo^  tUvMva 
Kal  arroXog  o^vg  iKav€  itoXvairtpiwv  ttirA  n| 
k€kXo[jl€vov  PaaiXrjo^-  6  hi  Opaav^  avY^fa  t 
oXKahas  €U7rriXrjKas  cV  'A/xa  novnav  IXmrn, 
Xaov  oXov  6dp<wv€,  koI  v^ivotp  ^ro  4^t¥§' 
"  *Av€/)€9,  ovs  driraXXfv 

a^t  ndXiv  pdpvaaBt  irtnoiOdrt^'  tiiBofjLtvtm  U 
dfarc  TTiJp  €9  "Aprja,  koI  danrrov  witart 


/cat  arparov  vypoK€X€vdov  €vucpv^to^u  iaXiaafl 
crifv  hopL,  avv  BcjprjKi,  avv  oXxdat,  a^  AlOl^qy. 
€t  deos  cttActo  Bd/cxoy,  €fjLw  irvpi  B<Lr)^  <U^< 
ou;^  dXi9»  cl>;  Trpoxofjai  iToXvrpona  ^dpuatca  wdi 
dvdeai.  ScaGoXiKolaiv  ipov  (f>oUi(€v  'vhdawfglfg 
Kat  piv  Ihwv  alyr]aa,  koX  rjavxoi  tloin  Xmnnm 
erXrjv  ^av^d  peedpa  piaivop€vov  norofUHO; 
€1  yap  €7)v  poos  ovTos  an*  dXXorplov  nornuuHO, 
pLTjbe  7TaT7)p  c/zds"  ijev  'Afwyioy  *lv^  nfSatnn^, 
Kal  K€v  iyw  toSc  x^^H^  X*^^^  €irXrfaa  tcotfinif 
oSjJLTjv  PoTpvoeaaav  dpaXbvvatv  Atovvoov, 
Kal  npoxorjv  pedvovaav  ipov  ycvmfjpoy  6Mtmf 
TToaal  KoviopevoiGi  hUrp^xov  dfipoxov  vSatpt 
ola  Trap*  *Apy€loiai  (^tiJctcu,  co?  (I'oalxBwm 
126 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  20-50 

stroying  steel  and  to  devastate  the  city  of  Lycurgos.'* 
The  fearless  Indians  trembled  at  sight  of  the  fleet, 
when  they  surveyed  the  seabeaten  armada,  until  even 
the  knees  of  daring  Deriades  gave  way.  With  a  forced 
laugh  on  a  calm  face,  the  Indian  king  ordered  men 
to  be  marshalled  from  three  hundred  islands  along 
the  unapproachable  slopes  of  his  elephantfeeding 
land.  In  haste  a  herald  went  on  his  way,  travelling 
from  land  to  land  with  many  a  twist  and  turn,  and 
a  fleet  came  with  speed  from  the  many  scattered 
isles  at  the  summons  of  their  king :  boldly  he 
stretched  his  neck,  and  drew  the  helmeted  ships  into 
the  maritime  war,  with  words  of  encouragement  to 
all  his  men  which  he  uttered  in  high-hearted  tones  : 
33  "  My  men,  bred  beside  my  standfast  Hydaspes, 
now  fight  again  with  confidence  !  Bring  flaming  fire 
into  battle,  light  unquenchable  torches,  that  I  may 
burn  those  newly  come  ships  with  blazing  brand  and 
sink  in  the  sea  that  waterfaring  host,  with  spear,  with 
corselet,  with  ships,  with  Dionysos  !  If  Bacchos  is 
a  god,  I  will  destroy  Bacchos  with  my  fire.  Is  it 
not  enough,  that  he  has  sprinkled  those  cunning 
poisons  in  the  water  and  reddened  my  Hydaspes  with 
Thessalian  flowers  ?  That  I  have  looked  on  him  in 
silence,  and  let  myself  quietly  behold  the  yellow 
streams  of  my  maddened  river  ?  For  if  that  stream 
came  from  a  foreign  river,  if  the  warlike  Indian 
Hydaspes  were  not  my  own  father,  then  I  would 
have  filled  that  flood  with  heaps  of  dust  to  drown 
the  viny  stink  of  Dionysos  ;  I  would  have  walked 
upon  the  drunken  stream  of  my  father  and  crossed 
unwetting  water  with  dusty  feet,  as  once  it  is 
said   among    the    Argives   that    Earthshaker   made 

•  The  Lycurgos  of  books  xx.-xxi. 

127 


NONNOS 

^r)p6v  vhcjp  TTolrfuet  Koi  av<rraMov  voto|IoSo 

ov  deos,  ov  deo^  o6ro^'  iifv  b*  iiJKyaaro  ^mrhfr 
TToL-qv  yap  l^povlwvos  'OAv/itruw  <uyi8a  wiiAAci; 
troLov  cx€t  oTTivBripa  AiopXi^roiO  KtpavvoO; 
nolrjv  8*  ovpavir)v  artpon^v  y€V<T^p09  Qtlp^i; 
oi)  Kpovl^s  Kar   'Aprja  Kopvaatnu  o&vm  Ktaai^' 
ov  Tvndvwv  nardyoiai  fUXos  ^pcvnumf  iiattut. 
ovhk  Ato5  aia]TrTolaiv  opMua  dvpaa  KoXdaoiu. 
ov  x^ovux)  dwprjKi  Aios  »^^  tow  ^y^* 
v€ppihL  SatSoAc'ij  TTOTC  wouctW  ooTpor  l£i»n»; 
oAA*  €>€€t9,  OT4  ^pw  c5€f  aro  Koi  xww  o&w 
8a>pa  napd  Kpotfiwvos  cUf i^imno  TOif^of 


V€KrapL 

HoLKxo^  ofiov  ^arvpoimv  cVi  x^ov^  €iXamw6(im' 
balvxrrai  ovpavioioi  <tvv  adavdroi^  Vtunffi^^^tff* 
€1  Se  neXc  ^poros  ovros  tirovpavloio  roteijof, 
avv  Alt  Koi  p.aKdp€fjai  fuijs  o/fovat  r/MiiN{i^. 
€kXvov,  cjs  ttotc  BCjkov  (6v  Kol  aKijnrpo¥  *OAtf^i 
8ai/<€  yepas  TLayprji  TraXauntpw  AiOVMjy, 
dcrrcpoTrqv  TLayprji  koX  dp.irtXov  oivonn  Boiry^. 

£7776  Koi  €19  p,66ov  wpro'  awtppwovTO  M  Aool 
ouv  8opi,  (7UV  aaK€€aGi,  koX  o^jupuov  IkitSUk  vOofi    * 
X^paaiov  TToAc/xoto  fi€T€cni^aavTO  daXdatrjj* 
Kal  TrpofiaxoLS  J^iowaos  iKtKXero  Bwdit  ^^^i^*^* 

"  "Apcos  oAKi/xa  TC/cva  kcu,  €v6<japnrfKOS    Aim|n|f» 

ofs-  jScOS^   ^pyO-  pjodoiO   KOX   iXTTth€9  CUTIV  tt^UMf , 

o  In  his  anger  because  Phoroneus  and  the  oCber  priacM  of 
Argos  adjudged  their  land  to  Hera ;  see  [  ApoUodoTM)  tt.  14^ 

Pausanias  ii.  15.  5, 

128 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  51-79 

water  dry,  and  a  horse's  hoof  left  his  prints  on  the 
dust  of  river  Inachos  dAed  up." 

53  "No  god,  no  god  is  that  man  ;  he  has  lied  about 
his  birth.  For  what  Olympian  aegis  of  Cronion  does 
he  brandish  ?  What  spark  has  he  of  Zeus-thrown 
thunderbolt  .''  What  heavenly  lightning  of  his 
father's  does  he  lift  ?  No  Cronides  equips  himself 
for  war  with  vineleaf  and  ivy  !  I  cannot  compare 
the  music  of  thunder  to  rattUng  cymbals.  I  will 
not  call  the  thyrsus  anything  like  the  thunderbolt 
of  Zeus,  I  will  not  allow  an  earthly  corselet  to  be 
equal  to  the  clouds  of  Zeus.  How  can  I  liken  a 
dappled  fawnskin  to  the  pattern  of  the  stars  ? — But 
you  will  say,  he  received  the  grapes  and  the  Uquid 
wine  as  gifts  from  Cronion  his  father,  who  blesses  the 
crops  with  increase.  Well,  Zeus  gave  Olympian 
nectar  to  one  of  Trojan  blood,  a  country  clown,  a 
cowTnan,  Ganymede  the  cupbearer,  and  wine  is  not 
equal  to  nectar  :  thyrsus,  you  have  the  worst  of  it ! 
Bacchos  feasts  on  earth  with  Satyrs  ;  Ganymede 
banquets  with  the  heavenly  immortals.  If  this 
mortal  had  a  heavenly  father,  he  would  have  touched 
one  board  with  Zeus  and  the  Blessed.  I  have  heard 
how  Zeus  once  gave  his  throne  and  the  sceptre  of 
Olympos  as  prerogative  to  Zagreus  the  ancient 
Dionysos — Hghtning  to  Zagreus,  vine  to  wineface 
Bacchos  !  " 

'*  He  spoke,  and  away  to  battle.  The  people 
rushed  together  armed  with  spears,  with  shields,  and 
now  transferred  their  last  hope  of  victory  from  land 
to  sea.  Then  Dionysos.  called  to  his  leaders  with 
wild  voice : 

78  "  Mighty  sons  of  Ares  and  corseleted  Athena, 
whose  Hfe  is  the  works  of  war,  whose  hope  is  conflict ! 

VOL.  Ill  K  129 


NONNOS 

aTT€vaar€  Kal  Kara  nSvrov  aiarwoai  y^vof  *lMklFf  M 

oAAa  BaXaaaaioio  hiatcropa  hvjiartjroi, 

€yx€a  hL7rXiuaayT€^  ofiOTrXoKa  5t{uvi  htiffi/^ 

vavfiaxa  KoXXTJ€vra,  TrtpH  arofia  tifUva  )^aAic<p, 

fiL^are  Svafi€V€€aaiv  aXi'rrTOirjTO¥  'Eruui,  it 

7rpo<l>ddfi€voi,  firj  x^^  irvpavyda  5aA^  dcijpair 

Arjpidbrj^  <f>X€(€i€v  ^Ap-nia  Sovpara  rtfutv* 

v6a<fn  ij)6pov  ^idpvaoBt^  Mi/xaAAd»^(*  iypOiMm^y^ 

eXnlhes  dvriJ^Ujjv  Ktvtavxw'  ci  hk  luy/rfoait 

<t>vX(yiTiv  ovK  €r€X€aa€v  ctri  x^ovo^  opYOfiOf  *Ili&Sr»  M 

rjXiPdTcjv  Xo<f>ifjaiv  €i^hfn^awv  iXi^atrrm^, 

d.yx^v€<jn\s »  dKixrjro^,  opovraro^,  iflpn  y€trw¥, 

ov  fi€v  iyd)  npofidxcav  nork  Stvofuu,  oi^  KoXioom 

dXXov  douGTjrrjpa  fierd  Kpo^^iwpa  rotcfja, 

rjVLOxov  TTovroio  Kal  alBtpo^'  riv  8*  iBMf9<0,  M 

yvwTov  €fiov  KpoviBao  l\oG€iBd{jjva  tcopiaott 

IvbwTjv  OTixo.  Trdoav  dpua^wovra  r/xo/i^* 
Koi  TTpofiov  €vpvy€V€iov,  dnooTTopov  iwoavyoiOVf 
rXavKov  €XCJ  awdcOXov,  ifirj^  art  yttrova  Qijpi|t, 
novTiov  *Aovir)s  *AvBTfS6vo^  darov  dpovafif'  IM 

TXavKov  €X€o  Kal  ^opKiw  lfiaaaofi€yrjv  04  BaXaoajf 
oA/caSa  ArjptdSax)  KaraKpvtJKi  McAix<7>Ti7(, 
KvhaLv<x)V  ^lowaov  ofioyvtov,  oS  naT€  fitfrnp 
vrpnov  €Tp€<l>€  BdKxov,  cttci  Trope  novna^    Iiiw 
€v  yXdyos  dfi<f>or€poiGit  UaXaifLovt  teal  ^umia^*      MS 
fiavTiTToXov  8c  ytpovTos,  OS  rifi€r€pTjv  nork  yunp 
€Gaofi€vrjv  Kara  ttoxtov  vTTOppvxij)  ^to  ^Ofrj, 
€ifil  <f>iXo9  Uporrijos'  cV  vofiwyjv  8<  Kopvaatt 
dvyarepas  ^-qprjos  tfi-q  GcViy,  cv  8<  KvSoifUMf 
BaGGapCSojv  crwdeOXos  c/xi^  Bcapi^crarrai  *\vw-  110 

dcDprj^o)  8'  is  'Aprja  Kal  AloXov,  o^pa  PO^ot^ 

180 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  80-111 

Make  haste  now — destroy  the  Indian  race  on  the  sea 
as  well,  and  finish  your  land  victory  with  another  by 
sea  !  Come,  take  in  hand  those  messengers  of  sea- 
warfare,  spears  coupled  together  with  double  rings, 
welded  seapikes  with  bronze  fixed  at  the  mouth, 
and  join  sea-terrifying  battle  with  your  enemies — 
get  in  before  them,  that  Deriades  may  not  hft  his 
fireblazing  torch  and  burn  up  the  warlike  timbers 
of  our  ships.  Fight  without  fear,  Mimallones ! 
For  the  hopes  of  our  seafighting  adversaries  are 
all  empty  boasts.  If  for  all  his  efforts  the  Indian 
chieftain  could  not  finish  off  his  war  on  land,  seated 
on  the  neck  of  mountainous  elephants,  near  the 
clouds,  unapproachable,  unwounded,  a  neighbour 
to  the  sky,  then  I  never  lack  champions,  I  will 
call  on  no  other  helper  after  my  father  Cronion, 
charioteer  of  sea  and  sky  ;  or  if  it  please  me,  I 
will  arm  Poseidon  the  brother  of  my  Cronides,  to 
wipe  out  all  the  Indian  host  with  his  trident,  and 
I  have  as  my  ally  Earthshaker's  offspring  Glaucos, 
the  broadbearded  champion,  as  neighbour  of  miy  own 
Thebes  and  seaborn  inhabitant  of  the  land  of  Ao- 
nian  Anthedon" — yes,  Glaucos  I  have  and  Phorcys. 
And  Melicertes  will  drown  the  vessel  of  Deriades 
flogged  by  the  sea ;  he  shall  glorify  Dionysos  his  kins- 
man, for  his  mother  once  nursed  baby  Bacchos,  since 
Ino  of  the  sea  gave  one  milk  to  both  Palaimon  and 
Dionysos.  I  am  also  the  friend  of  Proteus  the  Old 
Man  prophetic,  who  told  with  a  voice  out  of  the 
deep  waters  my  coming  victory  on  the  sea.^  My 
Thetis  also  prepares  the  daughters  of  Nereus  for 
war,  and  in  the  battle  my  Ino  is  arming  to  help  the 
Bassarids.     Aiolos  too  I  will  arm  for  warfare,  that  I 

«  Cf,  xiii.  73.  "  Cf.  xxi.  289. 

131 


NONNOS 

E^pov  aKovrl^ovra  koI  alxfJuil^ovTa  Bofnfa^ 
ya^ppov  ifiov  irpoyLaxov, 

}Aapadu}Vil^  dpftraya  rUfb^i|f« 
Kai  NoTov  AWioirfja  npoaaniarrjpa  \valom* 
/cat  Tj€<l>vpos  TToXv  fxdXXov  dcAAijcKn  KvitHfi^  IW 

oXKabag  avrifiiuiv  SiyArJacTcu-  tifur^pov  y^ 
evv€Tiv  *\piv  c^fi  Aios  dyycAoi'.    oAAd  ouMrf 
iKToBev  cvBvpGOio  Koi  *lvSwoiO  tcvSo^toO 
fUfiv€TO)  rip€fi€atv  Bpauv^  AioXo^,  ificZi  StO|A4^ 
OLGKov  cVta^iyfay  orcfUi^Sca,  firfi*  ivi  irdrry  W© 

dadfiaaiv  *lvbo<l>6voiaw  apurrtvaoHfw  d^rot* 
dAAa  ftd^oi/  r€\€Gw  vffo^opa  Ovpoa  Ttraimit¥," 

"Qj  cIttojv  €K6pvoG€  TrcTTOi^oToy  ^yt/ior^Of . 
•^817  Be  TTToAc/xoio  TrpodyycAoy  mttoto  <mAirty(« 
Kal  fjLeXos  €yp€Kvhoifiov  dvtKXayov  'Apcof  oMoi      Ui 
Aaov  doAAi{oKT€9,  dpaaaopAvt)  hk  pO€irj 
elvaXlov  KeXdhrjac  fiodov  xaXKOKporrov  i^x^' 
KoX  Kavayr)v  ofioboimov  dytarparo^  ia^c  ovptyf  • 
di^t  8c  irerpal-qs  TroAc/xiJia  X€uffava  ^ojvij^ 
HavLOLS  vaT€p6<f>o)vos  dpai^ro  ttovtw  'H^fci.  ISO 

Total  8e  fiapvap.€voiaLv  erjv  kXovos,  utpro  h*  luni 
K€kXoix€vwv'  Kal  Xaos  iBi^fiovt  fidpvaro  rixKd 
KVKXwaas  (rr€<f>avrjh6v  oXov  arparov,  cv  8*  apa  ^awjp 
vtjvgIv  6p,ot,vy€€aaiv  €pxTp<oBrj  aroXos  *\v6tiam 
els  Xlvov  €pyofi€va)v  vcttoSwv  tvttov  AuurcScuy  5^    u^ 
AlaKos  vypov  "Aprja  npodeoTrl^wv  SoAo^imx 
dpxop-^yos  TToXefioio  deovBea  p-q^aro  ^wvrjtr 

"  Et  ndpos  r)pL€T€prqv  dUov  uc€Trj<jiov  'qx^ 
doTTopov  €vpvdXa}os  dir^Xaaas  avxf^v  dpovprrii^ 
1S2 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  112-139 

may  behold  East  Wind  shooting  arrows  and  North 
Wind  hurling  javelins — North  Wind  goodson  of  my 
champion  «  and  the  spoiler  of  the  Marathonian  bride, 
South  Wind  the  Ethiopian  defender  of  Lyaios. 
West  Wind  also  much  more  shall  destroy  the  ships 
of  my  adversaries  with  stormy  tumult,  for  he  has 
to  wife  Iris  the  messenger  of  my  father  Zeus.  No, 
better  let  bold  Aiolos  keep  away  from  the  battle  of 
Indian  and  thyrsus  and  remain  in  peace  and  quiet ; 
let  him  tie  up  tight  his  windy  bag  by  its  usual  cord, 
that  the  winds  may  not  be  heroes  on  the  deep  and 
slay  the  Indians  with  their  blasts.  I  will  finish  the 
battle  shaking  a  ship-destroying  thyrsus." 

123  With  these  words,  he  armed  his  confident  cap- 
tains. Already  the  trumpet  was  there  as  harbinger 
of  war,  and  the  pipes  of  war  gave  out  their  battle- 
rousing  tune  collecting  the  army.  The  stricken  shield 
sounded  with  bronze-rattling  noise  for  the  seafight, 
and  the  host-assembling  syrinx  mingled  its  piercing 
tones,  and  Pan's  answering  Echo  came  from  the 
sea  with  faint  warlike  whispers  instead  of  her  rocky 
voice. 

^31  Then  there  was  din  amongst  the  fighters,  and 
the  noise  of  clamour  arose.  The  host  fought  with 
their  accustomed  skill,  and  surrounded  all  the  enemy 
in  ring;  the  Indian  fleet  was  in  the  middle  girt 
about  with  an  unbroken  circle  of  ships  like  a  shoal 
of  fish  enclosed  in  a  net.  Then  Aiacos  beginning 
the  battle  cried  aloud  with  inspired  voice  this  pro- 
phecy of  the  watery  strife  at  Salamis  for  the 
descendants  of  Aiacos  : 

138  "If  ever,  O  Zeus  of  the  rains,  thou  hast  heard 
our  voice  of  prayer,  and  driven  away  seedless  drought 

<•  Erechtheus. 

133 


NONNOS 

SufjoXerjv  crrt  yaiav  dywv  fium^atoy  voatp.  Mi 

Sos  TToAtv  o^iTcAccrroi'  Unjv  X^^>  "Wtu  7aO, 
vhari  Kvhalvwv  fi€  koI  €v6a&€'  koI  rtf  Mffl 

VLKrjV    r)IJL€T€prjV    B€hoKTJfJL€VOS'    *  U*^    ^    /tt^ 

Zcuj  eov  via  y€paip€,  koX  €v  wcAaytacn  ytpaipti* 
oAAo?  avr]p  Acf€t€J'  'AxoiiKOj*  *  tlv  ivx  $€OU^  I4» 

klaKos  '\vho<f>6vos  4>vail,oaq'  d^i^oTtpO¥  yip^ 
K€Lpa)v  cx^pa  Kcipriva  koI  avXaxi  iropiror  im4a09t 
yapyia  nopev  ^^firfrpi  koI  €v4tpoawfj¥  Aiovifo^i/ 
pv€o  8*  r]p.€T€pr]s  ttXoov  oXko^'  ovotoA^  M 
COS"  x^oi'toi  /ccrcoii'i  <f>€p€apiov  rjyayov  v^(op,  lit 

/cat  pvduDV  Xayovcjv  BavaTrf^pov  ot&fia  icopAoom 
Hapvdficvov  GTpaTifjai  kcu  oXxdai  Aijpca&^of. 
oAAa,  TTctTcp,  aKTj7Trovx€  Plov,  aKrprrovxi  #ciAn|«oC, 
7T€fi7r€  fioL  aUrov  opvw  €/x^  #r7}/>u«ca  y€W(0Ai|f 

Sc^LTCpOV   TTpOfldxOlGl    Koi    VfJL€r€p<t}    ^lOl'Vatfi'  lt§ 

dXXos  8*  avTipLoiaiv  dpurr€p6^  opva  utta&uf 
avfipoXa  h*  dpAfxyripoi^  €r€p6Tpona  ravra  ycWo^lw* 
Tov  pL€v  iaadpTqao)  7T€<l>oprjfi€vov  dpmayi  rapo^ 
drjyaXeojv  ovvxojv  K€-)(apayp.€vov  o^c'i  Ktvrptp 
v€Kp6v  o<f)Lv  TTepLpLeTpov  dcprdl^omra  K€fnumj¥,  I0p 

hv(7fi€V€OS  K€p6€VTos  (iTrayycAAovTa  TcAcwnjy* 
AcuS  8*  dvrtjStcov  €T€pos  p^Xavoypoos  cA^ 
ia;av€at?  Trrepvyeaai.  TTpodifml^ajv  ^vov  *lv^<a¥, 
avTOfidrov  davaToio  ficXav  tvttov  riv  &*  i$€Xff<rrj9, 
ppovraioLS  irardyoiaiv  ifirjv  pxivT€V€o  vucrjv,  ||§ 

/cat  crT€po7rr)v  Bpofiloio  Ac;(c6ia  <f>€yy€a  ntfintMiv 
vUa  aelo  yepaipe  ndXiv  Twpi,  hvapi€V€wv  hk 
oA/ca8as"  cuTT^Ai^/cas"  dtOTCuaoKJi  K€pauvoi, 

*  Because  of  Aiacos's   piety,   Zc%is   readily  gnurted   hli 
134 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  140-168 

from  the  broad  threshingfloors  of  our  country,'*  and 
brought  Hfegiving  water  upon  the  thirsty  land,  then 
give  us  again  an  equal  boon  now  at  last,  and  glorify  me 
here  also  with  water !  Then  men  may  say  when  they 
see  our  victory,  '  As  Zeus  showed  honour  to  his  son 
on  land,  so  he  shows  him  honour  on  the  sea.'  Some 
other  man  of  Achaia  may  say,  *  Aiacos  is  both  Indian- 
slayer  and  lifebringer  at  once  ;  he  both  cuts  off  his 
enemies'  heads  and  brings  fruit  to  the  furrow,  giving 
joy  to  Demeter  and  a  merry  heart  to  Dionysos.'  Pro- 
tect thou  the  sailing  of  our  ship  !  As  I  brought  life- 
giving  water  to  the  hollow  of  the  parche(f  earth,  so 
now  I  arm  this  flood  from  the  hollows  of  the  deep 
to  bring  death,  battUng  against  the  armies  and  ships 
of  Deriades. 

^^^  "  Come,  O  Father,  monarch  of  life,  monarch  of 
battle  !  Send  me  an  eagle,  the  auspicious  herald 
of  my  birth,  on  the  right  hand  of  my  captains  and 
your  own  Dionysos  !  Let  another  omen  come  on 
the  left  for  my  adversaries,  and  let  these  two  be  op- 
posite tokens  for  both.  Let  me  see  the  one  sailing 
along  with  robber's  wing  and  lifting  a  huge  horned 
serpent,  dead  and  torn  by  sharp  points  of  his  keen 
talons,  proclaiming  the  end  of  my  horned  enemy  : 
let  the  other  come  to  my  host  of  adversaries  black- 
hued,  with  dark  ^vings,  foretelling  the  carnage  of 
the  Indians,  the  black  image  of  self-inflicted  death. 
If  it  be  thy  pleasure,  foretell  my  victory  with  claps 
of  thunder,  and  send  the  lightning  which  lighted  the 
birth  of  Bromios  to  honour  your  son  once  again  with 
fire,  and  let  thunderbolts  strike  the  helmeted  ships 

prayers ;  therefore,  when  a  great  drought  visited  Greece,  he 
was  asked  to  intercede  for  the  rest,  and  did  so  successfully ; 
see  Isocrates,  Evagoras  5\  Pausanias  ii.  29.  7-8.    Cf.  xxii.  277. 

135 


NONNOS 

wfJL<f>LOV  al<ixvv€ia^  o^oirrtpov  ofnnv  *V!.pumm.  |10 

ofifia  TraXiwoarrouy  ^aXwv  ayrtanuw    Apttmv 
yafJLppov  iov  Xirdvtvt  Kal  uxvc  fiv6o¥    E^M^AfAr* 
"  TayL^pos  €p,6g  Hofx'ijy,  Owp-qaato, 

fiapvafievo)  ycvcr^pt  Po-qdoov  daBfia  nraimm  n§ 

eSva  T€OV  daXdfjLoio  OaXaaaai-qv  iroM  vitcifr 
oAicaat  /xev  hpofiioio  if>€pwv  VJfooaoov  nSfftff 

VTjuat  §€  ^y)pidhao  pi(pir)v6ra  novrcv  IfLdootm 

dadfiari  Kvpxiro^vTi  rcaj  dwprffov  <i^AAaf—  ItO 

iaal  yap  vapiinqs  €fnr€ipafu>^,  orri  koa  aAr6f 

QpT/JK-qv  vcucrdei^,  ^fintipafLo^,  old  rttp  'Apnt—^t 

avriPicov  Sc  <l>dXayyi  hv<rqv€fJLOv  doB^m  teofuium 

cyx^'C  iraxyvcvTi  Kopvaaco  ^rfpiahrji' 

arrJGas  8*  avripioiGi  ^ucAA^^aoov  *Kvuai  Hi 

hvojievdas  Tofcuc  x<^ciW^>^*  /^cA^fU^, 

icai  All  TTiord  <f>€po)v  koI  IlaAAa^i  koI  ^Uo¥fSotf, 

flVWeO  K€Kp07Tl7)g  €vnap$€vov,  ^x^  yvKUictf 

K€pKC8l,    TTOLkCXXoVGI    T€WV    VpL€VaiOV      KpWTW^' 

^IXiaaov  §€  y€patp€  yapxxiroXov,  dmtdOi  icovpfqif 

'Ar^iBa  0171'  napoKoiTiv  dvT^pnaaav  dpnaytt 

€^ofi€irr)v  drlvoKTov  aKunfrw  aldiv  utpu^. 

oI8a  p,€v,  (1)S  avvdcdXo^  cAcuaercu  oAAof  drfrrfs 

yciTOiv  dvTiPioLGLv  'Ecitoj*  oAA*  cVt  x^ipfin 

ov  rpop.€Oi  Bpaavv  l^vpov,  on  irt^poevrts  o^roi 

TrdvT^Sy  oaoi  ttvciouctiv,  oTrdovts  cicri  Bo^r^o^* 

#Cai    TTpOflOS   AWlOTTCUV    NoTlT^V   €7Tl    WfoV   dpOVpffS 

firjK€Ti  vo<7T^a€i€  Kopu/xj3aao9,  oAAd  5a/i<iiy 
136 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  169-198 

of  the  foe.  Yes,  Father,  remember  Aigina,  and  do 
not  shame  the  bridegroom  ^  of  thy  bride,  the  love- 
bird of  like  feather  with  this  !  " 

1^^  After  this  prayer,  he  began  the  fight ;  Erech- 
theus  also  cast  up  his  eye  to  the  heavenly  path  of 
the  ever-returning  Bear,  and  prayed  to  his  goodson 
in  these  words  : 

1^*  "  Goodson  Boreas,  put  on  your  armour,  and  send 
a  helping  blast  to  your  bride's  father  in  battle !  Give 
victory  by  sea  as  the  price  of  your  bride  !  Bring  a 
ship-stirring  wind  for  Bromios's  fleet  and  grant  a  boon 
to  Erechtheus  and  Dionysos  alike.  For  the  ships  of 
Deriades,  flog  the  maddened  deep  into  waves  with 
your  blast  and  arm  your  tempests — for  you  are  well 
practised  in  fighting,  as  one  whose  habitation  is 
Thrace,  well-practised  as  Ares  himself — then  drive  a 
stormy  wind  upon  the  host  of  our  enemies,  arm  your- 
self against  Deriades  with  your  icy  spear.  Raise  a 
hurricane  of  war  against  our  enemies,  shoot  the  foe 
with  your  frozen  shafts,  and  keep  faith  with  Zeus  and 
Pallas  and  Dionysos.  Remember  Cecropia  *  with  its 
lovely  girls,  where  the  women  weave  with  their  shuttle 
the  love-story  of  your  wedding.  Honour  Ilissos  who 
led  the  bridal  train,  when  the  robber  breezes  made 
robbery  of  your  Attic  bride,  sitting  unshaken  upon 
your  unmoving  shoulder. 

^®3  "I  know  that  another  wind  will  come  to  help 
our  adversaries,  the  East  Wind  their  neighbour:  but 
I  fear  not  bold  Euros  in  battle,  because  all  the  winged 
breezes  that  blow  are  servants  of  Boreas.  Let 
Corymbasos  the  chief  of  the  Ethiopians  never  return 
to  the  arable  land  of  the  south ;  let  him  be  brought 

"  Alluding  to  the  eagle-shape  which  Zeus  took  to  carry  oflF 
Aigina.  "  Attica. 

137 


NONNOS 

tpvxpov  xmkp  TTOVTOio  tnutv  davaTtf^opov  Ao^* 
ovK  aXiyw  Z€<f>vpoto,  Kopvoaoft4voto  Bojpf^* 
Sel^ov  6yLO<j>po<Jvvr)v  €Kvpw  a^BtV'  ovpwnVW  M 
avv  aol  ^aKxt'a.h€aaiv  ifiali  orpari^ow  ll^^^ 
fiapvdfjLcvos  TpioSovTi  V\oo€ihdwv  iroA    AA|M|p 
Tj  fi€v  €otj  vatrrjaiv,  6  5^  yvurrKHO  ycWiM|f* 
Kal  '7wp6€i9  'H<l>aioT09  'E/>€X^<o?  aXfM  ytpolptm 
rfcrai  evdvrqTos  «J  t^TOccToav  *Eyvw, 
oA/caai  Ai^puzSoo  fuz;(^/io>^  irvpoov  iXlaoom, 
hos  3c  /Lie  vt/c^aai  ic€u  cV  v^Kxai,  iccu  furci  r£n|r 
KcKpoTTiT)  Kop.u7€i€v  dTrrffiova  Xaoy  *Epcx^cvv, 
*cat  Bopcrjv  p.€\^HiHn  koX  *Qp€iBvia¥  *A9^mu." 

Toiov  CTTOJ  pooojv  dAi5iv€o^  iT^ttTo  xopfnff 
cyx^t  T€;^OTi,  ICCU  cuy  va€Trj^  ^\apadatvoi 
vavfiaxov  er^ev  cpcora*  ifnXrjpdrfiw  &€  «ru$04fU^ 
cuoToAo?  i^ev  "Ap^g  rort  vairriXos,  iv  naXdfLji  M 

Tn^SoAtOV    ^OpOg    €tx€,    KVp€pirqTTI^    &€    ItuSoCfloO 

Aeip.09  dKovTo<f>6pojv  dvtXvaaro  n€iafumL  ri|cdr. 
Ku/cAcoTTcoi^  5c  ^<xAayye;  evatn'AAovro  AiA<£oo]|| 
oAicaSa?  dy;(tciAo«jii'  oiorciJojTcy  ipinvaii' 
EupuoAo;  8*  oAoAa^ci',  dXippoi^u*  5<  irv&Mfi^ 
dYXi'V€(f)r}s  ol(Trpr)a€V  eV  vop.Lvr)v  WXnirfiif^, 
Kal  SihviiaL^  OTpaTifjaiv  €7T€ktv7T€  novTWf  'Kpnft 
X€p<Tai7]v  ficrd  Srjptv,  dXippoi^o)  8*  oAoAi/r^ 
oAKam  Ba/cxeiT^aiv  €TT€pp€ov  oXkoJ^s  *Ii«8<iif 
icat  ^ro9  t}^  CKdrepOe,  Kal  cfcc  «(t;/tara  Ai^^, 
/cat  TToAuy  dp,<f>OT€pwv  (TTparo^  rjpnr€v  dprn^(VTtf  tA 
aXfJuiTL  Kvavdrj?  epvdalvero  vwra  daXdatr^, 
138 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  199-227 

low,  although  he  is  helped  by  his  own  hot  Ethiopian 
South,  let  him  drink  the  cold  water  of  death  beyond 
the  sea.  I  care  nothing  for  Zephyros,  when  Boreas 
is  under  arms.  Show  that  you  are  of  one  heart  with 
your  goodfather.  From  heaven  by  your  side  will 
come  Poseidon  fighting  for  my  Bacchiad  armies  with 
his  trident,  and  Athena,  she  helping  her  countrymen, 
he  his  brother's  son  ;  and  fiery  Hephaistos  honouring 
the  blood  of  Erechtheus  will  come  full  welcome  to  the 
watery  war,  swinging  a  warlike  torch  against  the 
ships  of  Deriades.  Grant  me  victory  on  the  sea  also, 
and  after  victory  let  Erechtheus  take  his  people 
home  to  Cecropia  unhurt,  and  let  Athens  chant  of 
Boreas  and  Oreithyia." 

212  Thus  he  cried  loudly,  and  fell  to  the  fight  on  the 
eddies  of  the  brine  with  well-skilled  spear — as  a  man 
of  Marathon  "  he  was  in  love  with  seafighting.  In 
that  tumult  of  many  oars  Ares  was  then  an  excellent 
mariner.  Rout  held  rudder  in  hand.  Terror  ^  was  pilot 
of  the  fray  and  threw  off  the  hawsers  of  the  javelin- 
bearing  ships. 

218  Troops  of  Cyclopians  navigated  the  sea,  shower- 
ing rocks  from  the  shore  upon  the  ships  ;  Euryalos 
shouted  the  warcry,  and  Halimedes  high  as  the 
sky  dashed  raging  into  battle  with  brineblustering 
tumult.  In  both  armies  the  sea-battle  roared  after 
the  conflict  on  land,  while  Indian  ships  charged 
Bacchic  ships  with  brineblustering  yells.  There  was 
carnage  on  both  sides,  and  the  waves  boiled  with 
gore  ;  a  great  company  fell  from  both  armies,  the 
back  of  the  blue  sea  grew  red  with  newly -shed  blood. 

*  An  odd  blunder  ;  Nonnos  seems  to  confuse  Marathon 
with  Salamis. 

*  Phobos  and  Deimos  are  Ares'  attendants  in  Homer. 

139 


NONNOS 

rioAAoi  8'  €vOa  tcai  €v6a  x^r^*  w/grorrff 
otSoAcoi  nXurTrjp€9  ivavriXXoyro  BaXimp' 
Koi  poBLois  €XiKrih6v  CYcui'  iropdfiija^  ai/rac  ^^ 

avp€TO  vtKpos  ofuXoi  a^i5/i  aw^miof  aC^' 
rroAAoi  S*  atVrofcuAioTov  vtto  orpo^iXtyya  tcviotfioQ 
€19  poov  wXlaBriaav,  avayKoij)  hi  m&ntt 
niKpov  v^p  evoi^oov  xmofiovx^rf^  Xiva  Mojpiff » 
Ppid6fJL€voi  OwpnriKf  Kol  oiOaMcav  yJXatf  Samp  flB 

Kvav€a)v  €KdXv7n'€v  ofioxpoa  awfiara  vtxp&f 
^€vd€i  <I>vkl6€vti,  aw  vyponopw  Si  ^oftifi 
XaXK€o^  IXvoevTL  x'-'^^*'  iKoXtjirrtro  mfX^' 
Kai  rdiif>os  inXcro  nom-os.    €rvfifi€vo¥ro  Si  woAAot 
K7jT€ioi,s  vcwcaaii',  cv  txBv6€VTt  hi  Xat^MM  fio 

omvoov  aiBvaaoiHTa  viicw  rvfifiivaaro  ^cmni, 
^avSov  €p€vyop.€vrj  poov  axfiarof,    6XXvudmt¥  hi 
r€VX€a  TTovTos  ibtKTOt  v€oa^y4o^  bi  ^op^Of 
avTOfxarrj  XcxfKt^aaa  hi    vharo^  hrXt€  in}Xii( 
h€afiov  Xvofi€votOf  SiKXXi^tvTi  5<  iroXXrff  Mft 

X^vfiari  <l>oiTaX€rjs  €n€Vfjx€TO  icvKXa  Potlfff 
crvv  Sicpw  T€Xafiwvi.    iroXv^  5*  vno  KVfAoaut  dttpoi^ 
d<hp6s  ipevdioojv  noXirj^  av€KrJKUv  oAffti^ 
aifiaXdo}  Trdi'XevKov  vTro<JTi(ag  ;(v<7iv  oA«t^. 

Kat  <f>ovlais  XiPdBcGGiv  €<f>oiyixOr)  ^UXuc^pmff'      Mt 
KiVKoBi-q  S'  oAoAyfc,  ridr)vrn€ipa  Xvalau, 
aifx^va  yavpov  ixovaa,  Kai    Ivho^^vov  wtpi  vunit 
dvBei  <I>vkl6€vti.  KopLTjv  €ar4ilfaro  Nvfi^* 
icat  0€Ti?  aKpTjBefivo^  im€pKV^Hiaa  doXiatn^ 
X^lpas  ip€Laap.€vrj  koI  Acu/hSi  kcu  Wayovtirj  Mb 

da^ievov  ofifia  TiVatvev  cV  €V$vpoat  Su>vvou9. 

Kat  PvOlrj   FaAarcia  OaXaaaaiov  Sid  KoXnov 
r)p.i,(l>avris  'n€<f>6pr)To  hia^vovaa  yoAv^npf, 

140 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  228-258 

228  Many  on  this  side  and  that  side  fell  into  the 
mess  of  carnage,  and  navigated  the  sea  swollen  and 
floating.  The  merciless  winds  dragged  with  them 
the  crowds  of  dead  bodies,  tossed  about  by  the  surge 
with  breezes  to  ferry  them.  Many  fell  of  themselves 
under  the  whirlwind  of  battle,  and  slipt  into  the  flood, 
then  drank  of  the  bitter  brine,  for  they  could  not  help 
it,  and  weighed  down  with  their  corselets  knew  the 
threads  of  the  Fate  who  drowned  them  in  the  waters. 
The  black  water  covered  the  black  livid  bodies  of  the 
swollen  dead  with  seaweed  in  the  depths  ;  slimy  mud 
covered  coat  of  mail  and  seafaring  wearer  together ; 
the  sea  was  their  grave.  Many  again  had  sepulture 
in  the  maw  of  seamonsters,  or  the  darting  seal  en- 
tombed the  inanimate  corpse  in  her  fishy  throat  and 
belched  out  a  stream  of  brownish  blood.  The  sea 
took  the  armour  of  the  dead  ;  the  plumed  helmet 
worked  loose  from  the  strap  and  floated  upon  the 
water  by  itself,  its  owner  newly  slain  ;  many  a  round 
shield  swam  at  random  on  the  flood  with  soaking 
sling  driven  by  the  gale,  and  under  the  surface  of 
the  waves  masses  of  red  foam  bubbled  up  from  the 
grey  brine,  marking  the  spread  of  white  with  streaks 
of  blood. 

250  Melicertes  also  was  stained  by  the  drops  of 
gore  ;  Leucothea  cried  out  for  joy,  she  the  nurse  of 
Lyaios,  raising  a  proud  neck,  and  the  Nymph  crowned 
her  hair  with  flowers  of  seaweed  for  the  Indian- 
slaying  victory  ;  and  Thetis  unveiled  peeping  up  out 
of  the  sea,  with  her  hands  resting  on  Doris  and 
Panopeia,  turned  a  gladsome  eye  towards  Dionysos 
with  his  thyrsus. 

257  Galatea  too  came  from  the  depths  and  moved 
half  visible  through  the   bosom   of  the   deep  sea, 

141 


NONNOS 

Kal  <f>oviov  KwAomos  aXi'rrrolffr€¥  *E»tNtf 

eXnero  yap  UoXv<f>r)fiov  i6€i¥  ttara  ^ittovir  *li« 
atTta  ^Tjpidhao  avvaix}idl^otrra  Aua/q»* 
rapPaXerj  8*  ltctr€V€  BaXaaaalrjv  *A^po 
via  Y\oG€iSda)vos  dpurrtvovra  aawaai, 
Kal  yeverqv  <f>iX6T€Kvov  i^*  vUi  Kva¥OXiihiff  MB 

p.apvap.€vov  \i,rdv€V€  npoaani^tw  HoXu^fi^iiam, 
Kol  Pvdiov  rpioSovTOS  €KVKXuMjtvno  ^off9ji^ 
6vyaT€p€s  ^rjprjos'  €p«t5o/icvoj  W  rpuwrg 
TTovTios  €woaiyai,os  tbtpKtro  ytlrova  x^'PI'^9 
Kol  arparov  €vdiupT)Ko^  onin€vnjv  AiOWdOtr,  tlO 

^■qXrip^v  opowv  iripov  YkVKXumo^  *EriN«, 
vypopLodu)  Bpofilw  noXvfi€fi<t>4a  fr^aro  ^uti^' 
"  Et?  cvotttJv,  <f>CX€  Boic;^*, 

KaXXelipas  8*  eua  /xoiH'oi'  d-noTTpoBi  ^mar^roy, 
€1?  xpo^'o*'  €'7TTa€r7)pov  CYcis'  7roAu#rv*fAor  aycitfra,      tTi 
PoGKOJV  dXXoTrpoGoXXov  artppx>vo^  iXitHha  xidpfiyf^, 
oTTt  T€oi5  pL€ydXoio  TrpoaoTTiarrjp^i  dyuM^Of 
TTcii^c?  €1^09  x^TCoiKTii'  di'iiorrou  rioAv^^fiov* 
€t  he  T€rjv  €771  8^piv  e/i09  n-ai^  urcro  KiM(Aai^«  f79 

narpwTjv  8*  cAcAtfci'  c/xij?  yAcu;^!!^  rpuuyift,  ttl 

ICai  K€V  UTTCp  7T€bloiO  (TwaL)Qidiatv  £SMJ¥6ot(f  ttO 

QTrjdea  PovKcpdoio  SUdXaa€  SrjpiaAfjos,  ISA 

icat  TToAuv  ali'ov  ofiiXov  €fiw  rptoBovn  5<u{air  ftl 

€19  p-iav  r)piy€V€Lav  oXov  ycvo9  ticravtv  *\vhoai¥.         IB 
utoj  c/Lto?  TToAat*  oAAo?  c^oiv  cKaroKra&a  x^ipAf    ^^ 
Ttn^vcuv  oAen^pt  T€ai  •)(fialop.r)0€  toktm, 
Atyauuv  7roAi^;(u?,  ore  Kpovov  ciV  ^^ficm  ihcijmf 
'  So  Marcellus :  irdJUv  MM.  and  edd. 

"  Nonnos  follows  the  story  aooording  to  which 
142 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  259-287 

wrinkling  the  calm  surface,  and  looking  upon  the 
sea-afFrighting  battle  of  murderous  Cyclops  she  was 
shaken,  and  her  cheeks  changed  colour  from  fear,  for 
she  thought  she  saw  Polyphemos  fighting  for  Lyaios 
against  Deriades  in  this  Indian  War ;  and  in  dismay 
she  besought  Aphrodite  of  the  sea  to  protect  the 
heroic  son  of  Poseidon,  and  she  prayed  the  loving 
father  Seabluehair  to  defend  his  son  Polyphemos  in 
the  battle."  The  daughters  of  Nereus  gathered 
round  the  bearer  of  the  deepsea  trident ;  Earth- 
shaker  the  seagod  leaning  upon  his  trident  watched 
the  neighbouring  conflict,  and  scanning  the  host  of 
corseleted  Dionysos,  he  observed  with  jealousy  the 
valour  of  another  Cyclops,  and  loudly  reproached 
Bacchos  for  disturbing  the  waters  with  battle  : 

2^3  "  Bacchos  my  friend,  how  many  Cyclopians  you 
have  brought  into  your  war,  and  left  only  one  far 
from  the  battle  !  Your  conflict  has  lasted  through 
many  cycles,  seven  years,  feeding  the  varying  hopes 
of  endless  strife,  because  all  the  foremost  champions 
of  your  great  contest  lack  one,  Polyphemos  the 
invincible.  If  my  son  the  Cyclops  had  come  to  your 
conflict,  and  brandished  the  prong  of  my  trident, 
his  father's,  then  indeed  as  the  ally  of  Dionysos  he 
would  have  pierced  the  chest  of  horned  Deriades 
on  this  field — he  would  have  destroyed  a  great  and 
terrible  host  with  my  threetooth,  and  slain  the  whole 
Indian  nation  in  one  day  !  Before  this  another  son 
of  mine  with  a  hundred  hands  helped  your  Father 
to  destroy  the  Titans,  Aigaion  manyarm,  when  he 

loved  Polyphemos  in  return  (contrast  Theocritos  xi.)  and  bore 
him  a  son. 

143 


NOVVOc 

TjXipdrcjv  irircuvt  iroXwrnpti  two^  ay%HrrAft 
TjcAiov  aKioaxrav  €x<*»y  v^jfavx^ya  yairfft 

€U7raXdfiov  ^piapijo^  (mon  i  ifOOO¥T€S    Ewn». 

ToTov  €nos  <l>Bov€utv  v€fi€arifM)¥i  w^^paJU  ^iMi'f* 
aiSofi€vrj  8^  8<>a>aa  Karrj^a^  cfx*  mpttdi, 
"ApcX  fi^  na^ovTO^  ipcjfiavto^  MoAv^'^^iov. 

rjdaSa  novrov  oirumt  Karapfwrov  aJfian  Ni|pirfr* 
£av&qs  5*  €vvoaiyaios  €ddfifi€€  vuna  ^aXiaarit, 
IxOvas  di^po^yovs  opowv  kqX  tthfivi  Micpwr 
ycirovo;  dfipoxa  I'cura  y€<^vpcj6€VTa  tfaX(lo«Fi|f  .  .  • 
Baic;(ia5e9  t€  ^>aXayy€S  €7Ttpp€ov  aWam  Xaut,  300 

Kctro  §€  hvafjL€V€wv  crrparo^  dantrof, 

toy  A^  X*W*2/ 
paXXofi€va)v  ^i<f>€€am  kqI  oftnopoiaiv  6urrxHS» 
rod  p,€V  unkp  Xandpriv  /ScAo;  c/xircac, 

Tou  Oc   ryumffOt 
€yx€i  x°^^^  fi€adrqs  xmkp  avrvya  K6paifi 
<x)T€iXrj  p€pddu<rro  ;(apcu7ao/xAx>io  KOfnjyov.  90b 

TToAAot  8'  ci^a  iccu  o-^o  7ToXvGn€p€uiv  ^Aanymr 
TTOVTOV  dfJMiPaloujiv  dva4TxiiovT€S  €p€rfJL6lS 
KDaverjv  XcvKaivov  €TTaa<Tvr€pn)v  ;^u<ni'  d/^p^, 
Kai  novos  ^v  dvovr^ros  itriiyopLivtJV  tXarrfpuM^, 
<TViJL<f>€pTOV9  Sc  KoAcua?  doaoT^Ti^pi  ac^i|p9»  SIO 

IdvvTTjp  d7T€Ko^€  Kou  ca^MTcv  oopi  aci/n^. 
144 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  288-311 

put  Cronos  to  flight  and  stretched  the  farspread 
legion  of  his  high-climbing  arms  and  shadowed 
the  sun  with  hair  flying  high  over  his  neck,  so 
that  the  grim  Titans  were  driven  from  Olympos 
cringing,  before  the  attack  of  Briareos  and  all  his 
arms  ! 

2^2  So  he  spoke,  in  a  tone  of  grudging  jealousy  ; 
and  Thoosa  «  sank  down  her  cheeks  in  shame  that 
lovesick  Polyphemos  was  not  present  in  the  battle. 

^^  But  when  the  end  came  of  this  loudblustering 
conflict,  Nereus  saw  his  familiar  sea  flooded  with 
blood  ;  Earthshaker  was  amazed  at  the  brownish 
surface  of  the  deep,  as  he  saw  fishes  eating  men,  and 
the  back  of  the  neighbouring  sea  bridged  over  dry 
with  the  heaps  of  corpses  .  .  .  The  troops  of  Bacchos 
poured  upon  the  swarthy  people. 

(301  There  lay  an  infinite  multitude  of  the  enemy, 
struck  down  in  the  fight  by  swords  and  sharp  arrows. 
One  had  a  shaft  lodged  over  the  flank;  one  was 
struck  by  a  bronze  spear  over  the  round  of  his  temple, 
the  wound  running  deep  into  the  cloven  head.  Great 
numbers  of  the  farscattered  oarsmen  on  both  sides 
cleft  the  dark  flood  with  continuous  strokes  of  alter- 
nating oars,  and  whitened  it  with  foam ;  but  the 
labour  of  the  hurrying  oarsmen  was  in  vain,  for  the 
commander  cut  the  ropes  with  his  sword  and  severed 
with  aiding  steel  the  tangled  mass  of  lashings.'') 

<*  Daughter  of  Phorcys,  mother  by  Poseidon  of  Poly- 
phemos, Od.  i.  71. 

"  This  seems  to  be  a  description  of  a  ship  getting  away 
from  another  which  has  grappled  her.  Something  is  lost  to 
the  effect  that  Dionysos's  followers  caught  and  killed  those 
who  were  rowing  away.  But  the  whole  paragraph  may  be 
out  of  place,  for  in  the  next  lines  the  Indians  are  still  fighting 
stoutly. 

VOL.  Ill  L  145 


NONNOS 

€pp€€V  dnXav€wv  hoXixoatciof  o^po^  Surrwm* 
a)v  6  fi€v  loTov  c/3aAA€  fi€aaimTO¥,  of  5^  wtpi^foan 
lariov  evhimp-ov  €p6fiP€€  awhpofiof  aSfiOMt,  31* 

oAAo?  €J)v  irporovoiGi  nttrapfiivoi,  &f  M  U/toStft^ 
Kctro  7T€aa}v,  mpos  &€  &i*  W**^  *^  ttAi|n|f 
aKporarqs  ^rvx^fo^v  a€patXa^oiO  t€€p(UffS, 
acXiiaai  8'  oAAoj  fiji'  rtrayvofuyos'  dyvi^ar^  M 
oAAa  Kv^pvr}fT7)po^  dnonXaYX^^yra  K€Xtvio9  SM 

aorara  TrqbaXioio  bi€((a€v  curpa  tcopvufiov 
Kal  OAoyio;  icAtrroTo(o9  \nrrw4yuo¥  fiiXof  JXtttm 
LKpia  vrjos  cjSoAAe  icai  ou#(  irvx'V^  AvaUm, 
tJv  S*  cai5ca'  icard  ttoitok  ctmrcpov  26r  <SMn|i 
TTouAvTToSo?  a#coAiou>  n^purX^xBivni,  tcomiftpotf        ttft 
oAAov  8*  'qpPpor€v  oAAo;*  'Epu^ooti^  M  atftifp^t 
nofiTTiXov  oAAo?  €TU0€  «carai;(/ia(ctfF  AiowloDV 
€yx€'C  8*  i7ffo»^t{€  KopvfjiPaaoi,  o^fi^  '"'X'i^ 
oXxai-qg  ^arvpoio,  iTapat(aaa  8<  Aoyj^ 
IxOvos  vypoTTopoio  Kar€ypcuf>€  hi^vyov  oiSjp^  tti 

Br^yaXeri  yXcDx^vi'  Tirua*cd/x«i*o^  8€  aft5^yM^ 
€t9  a/coTrdi^  d;(^((rroi'  avovrqrov  Aum^vodv 
ArfpidS-qg  bopv  nipLTrev,  d-nornXayxBtlaa  hk  Bokj^ov 
€45  paxir^v  h€X<f>lvos  €iTOiirw€  Aoivio;  <u;(fii}, 
KvpTos  OTTji  Xo<l>iijai  oiWTrrcTcu  ix^uoy  at))(i)r,  no 

S€X<l>ls  8*  airrocAticToj  idrjpLovi  tcvKXa&i  vwnrQ 
rjfiidavrjs  GKiprrjae  ;(optTt8o9  dAfuxrt  Nfoi^m* 
TToAAoi  8*  rr^a  kcu  €i'6a  KVpicmjTijp€S  oXdupoo 
IxBves  wpxTjGavTo  x^H^^^^^H^^'^^  ^''^  vwrw¥* 
Kat  SrepoTnyy  npop.dxi'^fV' 

d€pafn6^^  8*  'AAifc^5i|(      SIO 
YCipl  Aaj3ci>y  TTpTjcova  OaXaaaoTOKOiO  KoXunnjig 
pup€v  cV*  dvTiPioiaw  eSwc  8c  ^iraXcq  nytJff 
146 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  312-342 

^12  From  each  army  flew  straight  a  shower  of  long- 
shafted  arrows  whizzing  unerring  through  the  air. 
One  struck  full  upon  a  mast,  one  ran  noisily  through 
a  flapping  sail  quick  as  the  wind,  another  pierced  the 
forestays,  another  fell  and  stuck  in  the  mastbox  ;  an 
arrow  again  flying  through  the  air  hit  the  end  of  the 
yard  which  supported  the  sail,  another  stuck  straight 
up  on  the  foredeck.  Others  came  near  the  helms- 
man, but  missed  the  way  in  which  they  had  been  sent 
and  scraped  the  top  of  the  moving  rudder.  Phlogios 
the  famous  archer  drew  a  shot  through  the  air,  and 
hit  the  ship's  deck  but  missed  Lyaios.  You  could 
see  a  winged  arrow  fly  and  skim  over  the  sea, 
then  embraced  in  the  feelers  of  a  curling  squid. 
Many  missed,  but  one  with  Erythraian  steel  aimed 
at  Dionysos  hit  a  pilot-fish.**  Corymbasos  cast  a 
lance  at  a  Satyr's  tail,  but  the  lance  missed  him  and 
scored  the  forked  tail  of  a  waterfaring  fish  with  its 
sharp  point.  Deriades  aimed  his  steel  at  a  target 
impossible  to  hit,  as  he  cast  at  unwounded  Dionysos  ; 
the  deadly  point  missed  Bacchos  and  got  to  work  on 
the  backbone  of  a  dolphin,  where  the  curving  neck 
of  the  fish  joins  the  bristUng  back — the  fish  leapt 
of  itself  in  its  usual  curving  course,  and  already 
half-dead  skipt  with  the  leap  of  a  dancing  Fate. 
On  all  sides  many  a  fish  with  pierced  back  tumbled 
about  in  his  dance  of  death. 

^^  Steropes  also  fought  in  the  forefront ;  HaU- 
medes  high  uphfted  upon  his  feet  grasped  the  crag 
of  a  seaborn  cliff  and  threw  it  at  the  foe — a  stray 

*»  Naucrates  ductor. 

147 


NONNOS 

Tfyrjxa^dov  pXr)e€l(m  XiSov  rpoxo€tb4t  KVteXtf». 
Kai  ns  aKOVTioBeiaa  hi*  oXxahof  6Xxaii  ytri 
a/x<^Te>as  cfcvfcv  aXibpofWi  hx*^  <"XI*'}»  ••• 

vr^as  €TrLa<f>iy^aaa  hvw  ^wtfovt  h€afUf» 
arcivoficvtov  v€<f>€Xr)b6v'  hfv  8*  mpotcrvwat  ^V* 

Kai  aroXos  dfufxyripODy  T<Tpa{i/yor  cfxtr  *Ei>M6« 
wv  6  fi€v  dmir<5poio  wept  /wx***  <»*^*>*^  aSpev, 
OS  h€  Aij3os  Spoacpolo  wt^w  trrc/xW',  St  M  B^pfof ,  IM 
Kat  NoTir^i'  -rrapa  WJav.    ofioi^Sa/j^  M^nraSr 
Moppcus  /x€v  Ta^vy^*'*'*^  ^^*  o^<*^<>f  a*«aoa  paiwur 
Baa(7apt3a>i'  €<f>6Prja€v  aXiirroirjrov  ^nM»« 
faos"  dpiOTCuoii'  Kai  cv  u5a<nv*  dAAc£  <  ff^poiy 
Ei^io;  ovrrjuas  hi(ffTJs  avtatipaat  x^ff-'^lf*  9t§ 

Kai  fioy€iov  oBvvrjaiv  tni  vroXiv  oi^cro  mopptus* 

''0<f)pa  fiev  €v$€ov  cAko;,  o  /iiv  Adx«,  5ai|iOP^  X'lp 
XvaiTTovov  3paxp-'fjvos  oKiaaaro  ^oifi6ii  Ti^fH* 
d€cnT€airi  AoAov  v^vov  unorpviovTOf  doti§, 
T6<l>pa  5e  SvGfi€V€€aaiv  cW^pac  AuScof  'Apiff.         StO 

Toiai  fttv  €yp€Kv8oifios  trjv  vXoos,  f^X*  ^*  *E*'W^ 
vauriAiT}?  TTpoKdXevBoVt  aXiafiapdyov  hi  KvioifiaB 
•^v  icAdi'os  dp.<f>oT€pcjv  mpoTponoi'  dynfilum  yip 
oGGoi  fi€v  Kpavaolatv  ourrtvoyTo  fiiXl^UfOis 
ri  <f>ovLOLs  7T€rdXoiaiv  ^  €yx€aiv  "^4  fia)(aiptu/ig  SM 

X^ipas  ipeTfiwaavres  d'qd€as  €i9  fUXoM  u8«|p 
WfiaajLV  daraOdcGGiv  irvp^vovro  BaXiaofif' 

€t   8c   Tt?   €t?   oAa   TTtTTTC   TVTTciy    BpOfUOCO  |4aXI|T4r» 

alBvGGOJV  TToXdfias  incv^x^ro  Kv^ra  r^unttf 
X^P^^'-  OaXaoGop-oBoiGiv,  dXippoi^w  8c  icuSoui^  flQ 

p.apvdfji€vos  podloLGi  fi€T    dv€pas  €Gxuf€9  ^amp, 
ElvaXlrjs  h€  TdXavra  fidxrjs  c^cAtif  Kpo^Uut^, 
148 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  343-372 

ship  sank,  struck  by  the  rounded  mass  of  hard  stone. 
Or  again,  a  spear  cast  over  the  sea  at  close  quarters 
joined  ship  to  ship  and  coupled  the  pair  together, 
holding  two  vessels  fast  in  a  common  bond,  while 
they  were  all  crushed  together  in  a  cloud — great  was 
the  clamour  on  both  sides. 

^^  The  two  fleets  were  engaged  in  four  divisions : 
one  facing  the  backbone  of  the  scorching  East  Wind, 
one  by  the  wing  of  the  rainy  Sou'west,  one  in  the 
region  of  the  North,  one  in  the  South.  Morrheus 
with  alternating  rushes  marched  kneeswift  from 
ship  to  ship  and  scattered  the  seascared  array  of 
Bassarids,  a  conquering  hero  equally  on  the  sea  ;  but 
Euios  wounded  him  with  his  thyrsus  and  checked  his 
valour  on  the  deep — then  Morrheus  in  agony  was 
gone  back  to  the  city. 

357  While  the  divine  wound  which  had  got  him 
was  being  healed  by  the  godly  hand  of  a  painquelling 
Brahman  with  Apollo's  art,  who  cooed  a  verbose  ditty 
of  solemn  incantation,  so  long  the  Lydian  wargod 
prevailed  against  his  enemies. 

3^1  Their  assault  awoke  a  new  conflict :  Enyo  went 
before  their  sails,  and  the  struggle  of  the  two  navies 
in  the  brineplashing  battle  was  different.  For  those 
of  the  enemy  who  were  struck  by  volleys  of  hard 
stones,  or  deadly  leaves,  or  spears  or  swords, 
paddled  the  black  water  with  unaccustomed  hands 
and  found  a  grave  in  the  sea  with  staggering  steps  ; 
but  if  any  warrior  of  Bromios  fell  stricken  into  the 
brine,  he  darted  out  his  arms  and  swam  cutting  the 
waves  with  seabattUng  hands,  as  he  fought  the  surge 
with  brineblustering  noise  and  cleft  water  instead 
of  men. 

372  Now  Cronion  incUned  the  balance  of  the  sea- 

149 


NONNOS 

vLKrjv  vSarocaaav  €'n€VTWotv  I^un^iia<ff 
Kal  PvSUx)  TpioSovTt  Kopvaatro  iaMU*oxo/n|f 
fiapvdficvos  hnnioiai,  koi  dfipoxo^  Awiox<lfa»  J* 

dpfia  lloGtihawvog  ePaxxtvBri  MtAunpTfK. 
Kal  TTiGvpaig  Kara  trovrov  i6iim€Vot>m  ndXXaag 
KVfuiTa  7Wpya*aayT€^  iOvjpii^yBTi^iav  drjrcA, 
hvafi€V€wv  tddXovTts  durraiacu  (rrixa  •'i|«3r.  Sit 

ol  fi€v  Aripio&rjos  dpTfyovts,  oi  5j  Amuoo*  m 

Koi  Zc^upo;  K€K6pvaro,  M9 

Noro9  S*  €n€avpui€¥  Efjpy»       W 
Kal  Boperjs  Gp^iaaov  dywp  dtrriirvotMf  ot^pifr 
dypia  fiaivofiivrjs  €n€fidari€  vuna  BaXdatnff, 
Kal  oToXov  Wvvovaa  /ia;^/AOva  Aijpio&^o; 
vofiLVT]^  "Kpi^  ^PX^'  Auavuao40  &€  Ki^oir  tti 

*\vho(l>6va)  TToXdfi-p  KoXntoaaro  Xai^a  N/iny. 
\€LXeai  8*  (VfioAcouri  fiax^jp^va  Kd^Xov  ipttaaf 
elvaXlrj  odXTTiyyi  ficAo?  /xi;#n}cTaTo  Niypcvy 
icat  ©CTis"  €afiapdy7)G€v  iwaXirj^  ^UXo^  *H;(0^ 
KVfiaGL  TraTpcuoioL  npoatmi^oxHTa  Avaiov,  9tQ 

Kvpyfidhcov  8c  Kaj36i/x>9  cBijfiova  BaXi¥  ^Iptm 
vapiLvrjs  hoXov  €vp€v  dprfyova'  firjKtbayfpf  yap 
V7]vv  lbl7)v  c^Acfcv  €Kovau>v  oulfdfk€vos  nvp' 
vtjvgI  8*  in*  dvTipioiaiv  cVcV^x*  ^oiraXtfi  inyfif 
vcvfiaai  Ba/c;^€totai  TT€piaKaipovaa  OaXdatrn,  SM 

#cai  Ao^ai?  l\iK€aaiv  axft*  oXxdhos  oXKoha  pnirmr 
kvkXov  €£  avrocXiKTOv  cv^;(€to  irvpao^  dXffrq^t 
Kalcjv  €vda  Kal  evSa  TToXwmepiijjv  orlxa  vtfum, 
Kal  aeXas  dSprjaaaa  Trupt/SATyroto  BaXdmrrff 
Nrypetj  aKprfhefivos  ibvaaro  p€vO€a  troirrov,  400 

q.Wofi€vov  <j>€vyovaa  hC  uSaro?  ucfiaX^ov  nvp, 

XafcTo  8*  '1^80?  o/xiAo?  cm  xBova,  itovtov  tdaa^' 
Kal  Oac^coy  cycAaaacv,  ori  nporipous  furd  Scil|ioi^ 
150 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  373-403 

fight,  preparing  a  watery  victory  for  Dionysos  ;  Sea- 
bluehair  armed  him  mth  his  trident  of  the  deep  to 
fight  the  foe,  and  Melicertes  madly  drove  the  un- 
wetted  car  of  Poseidon.  The  winds  also  rode  on 
four  tempests  over  the  sea,  armed  for  the  fray  and 
towering  up  the  waves,  with  a  will  to  destroy  the 
lines  of  their  enemies'  ships,  these  to  help  Deriades, 
those  Lyaios  :  Zephyros  was  ready,  Notos  whistled 
against  Euros,  Boreas  brought  up  his  Thracian 
breeze  as  a  counterblast  and  flogged  the  back  of  the 
maddened  sea.  Discord  guided  the  warlike  navy 
of  Deriades  and  led  the  battle ;  but  Victory  filled 
out  the  sails  of  Dionysos  with  a  hand  which  bore 
death  for  the  Indians.  Nereus  pressed  his  conch  of 
war  with  dripping  lips  and  boomed  a  tune  through 
the  sea-trumpet,  and  Thetis  shrilled  a  tune  of  war- 
like sound  and  defended  Lyaios  ^vith  her  father's 
billows. 

2^1  Eurymedon  the  Cabeiros  Hfting  his  familiar 
torch  invented  a  useful  stratagem  of  war.  He  set 
fire  to  his  own  long  vessel  on  purpose  ;  then  the 
vessel  was  sent  adrift  bounding  over  the  sea  against 
the  enemy  at  the  command  of  Bacchos.  The  errant 
bonfire  floated  round  of  itself  by  wayward  turns 
from  ship  to  ship,  and  setting  alight  here  and  there 
the  long  line  of  far-scattered  vessels.  The  Nereid  un- 
veiled seeing  the  glare  of  the  fire-shotten  sea  dived 
into  the  depths,  and  fled  from  liquid  fire  through 
burning  water. 

*02  Then  the  Indian  host  left  the  sea  and  retreated 
to  the  land ;  and  Phaethon  laughed,  because  Ares 
in  the   seafight  had  fled  again  before  the   fire  of 

151 


NONNOS 

€K  Twpog  'H^tWoto  iraXiy  ^vyt  nu//iaj(ov  'Afftff, 
^rjpidhrjs  S*  aKixtTO^  Ihwv  ^Xoya  awSpo/tc^ 
€t9  TTcSibv  'n€'n6mfro  Botitrtpa  yowara  wdXXatVf 
^vywv  uypov  "Aprfa  6aXauraofi6Sov  Aiomtbov. 

•  When  Hephaistos  cmnirht  him  wHh  Aplwodlto  hi  •  i 


152 


DIONYSIACA,  XXXIX.  404-407 

Hephaistos,  as  once  before  he  fled  from  his  chains.*' 
And  Deriades  when  he  saw  the  flame,  fast  as  the 
wind  fled  to  the  land,  wagging  his  knees  too  quick 
to  catch,  as  he  tried  to  escape  the  watery  assault  of 
seafighting  Dionysos. 

of  fine  chains,  Od.  viii.  296;  Helios  (Phaethon)  spied  on 
them,  ibid.  302. 


153 


AIONniAKHN  TESSAPAKOCTON 

TeaaapaKooTov  c;(C(  bthaJiYfi^vov  6p)(aua¥  *hMkf0 
ncjs  §€  Tvpov  ^iowGos  thvoaro,  narpAa  K^Sfiov. 

Ov  8e  Aitcqv  dX(€iv€  navotltiov ,  ovS4  teal  adr^ 
dppayeos  kXwotjjpo^  dxa/xTrca  iij/xaTa  Motfftff 
aXXd  pLiv  ddprjuaaa  wc^ufora   IloAAaf  *Aftpjn|— 
€^€TO  yap  Kara  ttovtov  cVc  trpopXtftoq  ifMrrtft, 
vavp,axov  elaopowaa  KopvoaopUvwv  fioBor  *Ii«5afr— >  f 
€K  GKOTTLTJs  dj^cTToATo,  KOi  apocva  huoaTO  fiop^fi^ 
KXctliivoois  8*  odpoiai  TTapTfira^fv  6p)(afio¥  *Ii«ter9 
Moppcoj  cISo?  €xovaa,  xapil^o^Uvt)  &€  Ava/y 
^Tjpidhrjv  dv€Koili€,  Kol  COS  dXtyovaa  tcvSiHfLoO 
<j>piKr6v  dTT€ppoi^hr)a€v  ctto^  7roXvfi€ft^i  ^tMt¥§'        10 

"  Ocuyct?,  Ar)pidSrj;    rtVi  ^roiAAincf  'Apca  nyctfr; 
TTCtis'  Suvaaai  va€Tr)aL  <l>ayij p.€vai ;    rj  'n60€V  aimj¥ 
o^cai  *0paiP6r)v  ficvtB-qiov,  at  k€v  dxovafi 
ArjpLdSrjv  (f>€vyovTa  #cat  ou  fiifivoyra  ywoxkos; 
ath€o  ^eipopL-qv  prf^rjvopa,  p,^  a€  voTfajj  If 

VGfXLVTjv  daiS-qpov  VTroTm^aaoyra  Avatov, 
^  Sopv  dovpov  €xovaa  Kal  6xXl^ov<ra  po€tri¥ 
pApvaro  BaaaapiScCTCTi,  axn^frnopJvr)  napaxoirfi, 
^ajeo  /xot  Moppet  Aittcov  pxtdov  r^v  8*  c^cA^ar^r, 
atrro?  dpLorevau)  /ecu  dt'oAxi^a  Baic;(o»'  oAcaoctf.      SO 
154 


BOOK  XL 

The  fortieth  has  the  Indian  chief  wounded,  and  how 

Dionysos  visited  Tyre,  the  native  place 

of  Cadmos. 

Yet  he  escaped  not  allseeing  Justice,  nor  the  inflex- 
ible threads  of  Fate  herself  the  inexorable  Spinner. 
No — Pallas  Athena  beheld  him  in  flight,  for  she 
sat  on  a  headland  high  over  the  sea,  and  watched 
the  Indians  contending  in  their  battle  on  the  sea. 
Down  from  the  height  she  leapt,  and  put  on  the 
shape  of  a  man,  the  form  of  Morrheus ;  and,  all  to 
please  Dionysos,  she  checked  Deriades,  cajoUng  the 
Indian  chieftain  with  mindstealing  whispers.  As  if 
anxious  about  the  conflict,  she  poured  out  words 
of  affright  in  reproachful  tones  : 

11  *'  You  flee,  Deriades !  Whom  have  you  left  in 
charge  of  the  seafight  ?  How  can  you  show  yourself 
to  the  people  ?  Or  how  will  you  look  in  the  face  of 
dauntless  Orsiboe,  if  she  hears  that  Deriades  is  in 
flight  and  will  not  stand  before  women  ?  Have 
respect  for  manbreaking  Cheirobie,  let  her  not  see 
you  shrinking  from  fight  with  Lyaios  unarmed — why, 
she  held  a  furious  spear,  she  heaved  up  an  oxhide  and 
fought  the  Bassarids  following  her  husband  !  Give 
place,  please,  to  Morrheus — you  have  left  the  field, 
and  if  you  please,  I  will  be  champion  myself  and 

155 


NONNOS 

'rT€vB€p6v  ov  KoXtatii  at  -nt^^irra,  atio  M 
ccrroi  XtipoPlr)^  €T€po?  noai^'  ouhofuvof  yip 

KoXXtuItU)   T€0»'   aOTU,    Kol    IfoflOl    tU  X^^*"*   lll(8«r, 

Zfo/xai  €tV  il*fu^i77»',  lya  firi  aio  yojdiftit  dUowwa». 

CU71V  *A/xa^oi'i3c9  rrtpl  Kavtcaao¥,  i^wiMi  wMal 
XeipoPlr)^  noXv  fidXXov  dpumvovai  yiiMiartc 
Ktldi  bopuc-rqrriv  Ppiaprjv  av(U&vo¥  OMoirm 
€(V  ydfiov,  rfv  cWAcu,  fiiav  afo^uu'  ht  BtiXi^tM^  v^ 
oi)  0€xoy-ai  mo  TraiSa  <fnryonroXifAO*o  TOtrifot,' 
*Qs  <fafi€yr)  nap€7r€ia(v  ayrjvopa  ^ffpuArja, 
Kal  ol  Odpaos  €hwK€  ro  htvrtoov,  o^pa  ha§uifi 
fiapvafjLtvov  Bpofiioio  rvntU  ^urrfvopi  BiSfiom. 
Kal  Bpaavs  ayvwoawv  BoXirjv  naptovaay    AA)n|r 
ipevhoficvov  ^ioppTJog  iXtyX^^  fivSov  OKoAim 
XciXcGiv  aiSop,€voiat  irappfffopov  Za)f€  ^ciin(r* 

ri  fi€  fu/x^cu,  drpofu  MopptB; 
ov  TTpoyuos,  ov  npofjLO^  o6to^, 

KoX  yap  afJLrjxcLveu},  rtVi  papvofuu  rf  rtm  /MAAm* 

OTTCvScJV   p.€V    TTTipOeVTl    fioXtlv    ^lOWOOV   SuFT^, 

rj  ^Uf>€l  TrAi]^ a?  p.€aov  avx^vo^,  ri  hopv  n^uwum 
ovrrjaai  nodiwv  hia  yaartpos,  avri  AtMUOP 
TTopSoAtv  aloXovuyrov  tnataaovra  Ki)(dyt»t  ,  .  . 
fiaovafidvov  8c  Xiovros  cTrciyo/ioi  ov^^cmi  rZ/AMCcy, 
#cat  Bpauvv  avrl  Xiovros  o^v  ScuTTrAi/Ta  Soiccucu* 
OTTCvScov  8*  dvTi  hpaKovTos  OTTiiTtvw  pa^w  apKTOV' 
€LS  Xo<l>ir)v  8'  inlKvpTov  €fi6v  bopv  dovpov  uiAActf, 
dAAd  jiaTTjv  Taruco  8oAt;(d>'  ptXo^'  dyri  yap  aptmm 

*  The  sense  of  the  lost  words  may  hftTc  been  ** 
panther  and  it  turns  into  a  lion.** 
156 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  21-48 

destroy  that  weakling  Bacchos.  I  call  you  good- 
father  no  more,  you,  a  runaway — let  your  girl 
Cheirobie  find  another  husband :  for  I  am  ashamed 
— I  will  leave  your  city  and  migrate  to  the  Median 
country,  I  will  go  to  Scythia,  that  I  may  not  be 
called  your  goodson. 

2^  "  But  you  will  say  *  My  wife  is  well  armed,  she 
understands  warfare  ! '  There  are  Amazons  about 
Caucasos,  and  many  women  are  there  far  better 
champions  than  Cheirobie.  There  I  will  carry  off  a 
strong  one  for  my  bed,  captive  of  my  spear,  to  wed 
me  without  brideprice,  if  I  like.  For  I  will  never 
receive  into  my  bridechamber  your  daughter,  whose 
father  is  a  fugitive  from  the  battle  !  '* 

^1  With  this  reproach  she  persuaded  proud  Deri- 
ades,  and  gave  him  courage  again,  that  he  might  be 
struck  down  by  the  mandestroying  thyrsus  of  warring 
Bromios.  He  knew  not  that  it  was  deceitful  Athena 
before  him  ;  he  heard  the  reproachful  voice  of  the  pre- 
tended Morrheus,  and  bold  again,  spoke  comforting 
words  with  shamed  hps  : 

^^  "  Spare  your  words.  Why  do  you  reproach  me, 
fearless  Morrheus  ?  No  soldier  is  this,  no  soldier, 
who  is  always  changing  shape.  Indeed  I  am  at  a  loss 
who  it  is  I  am  fighting  and  whom  I  strike.  Eager  to 
shoot  Dionysos  with  a  feathered  arrow,  or  to  cut 
through  his  neck  with  a  sword,  or  desiring  to  cast  a 
spear  and  pierce  his  belly — instead  of  Lyaios  I  find  a 
speckled  panther  charging  upon  me.  .  .  .*  A  lion  is 
fighting  and  I  hasten  to  shear  his  neck,  and  I  see  a 
bold  horrible  serpent  instead  of  a  lion — I  attack,  and 
instead  of  a  serpent  I  behold  a  bear's  back — I  cast  my 
furious  spear  at  the  curving  neck,  but  in  vain  I  hurl 


157 


N0NN06 

^oiWrcu  ^€p6^oiTog  avotmrot  hm^idm^  4^^^* 
Kanpov  iBojv  imovra  poo^  fivKH^fid^  dstemm,  10 

dm-i  avo^  riva  ravpov  tnrip  Xofoio  fiMrwrnam 
nanraivu}  yaporrfjaiv  axoyriioma  tctatUaut 
•fm€T€povs  iXtiJMvras'  iyw  5*  iiiiv  iop  iklf90m 
ihrjpol  iroXv<nT€p€€aai,  koi  oCy  m  ^mM  fia§ldf/m, 
Kol  if>VT6v  ddpnaas  ravvut  ^cAof ,  dXXa  ^vfiirrot       H 
vvaaav  is  rjtpirfv  opow  Kuprovfuvot^  vSmp. 
€v6€V  €y<jj  rpop,€Uiv  noXwfxipfiajca  Ba^fMOra  r/jpTfi 
<f>vXo7nv  dXXoTTpoaaXXov  aAvaira{a»  Aioviloov* 
oAAd  ndXiv  ^pofiiw  Bwpi^ofiai,  dxpit  ^Xiyfm 
fidyyava  r€;(>n/cvra  hoXoppa/^os  AionSdov."  tO 

*Q.S    tlTTOiV    K^KOpVarO    TO    h€VT€pO¥    ^M3l   AllvM* 

Koi  ndXiv  €v  7rc3ui>  fioSos  tfiptfu,  /iiijiiii|iA'y  U 
elvaXtrjv  fi€rd  bijpiv  iOwpn^xBrj  ^uMwnp' 
Kol  TTporipnrjs  Bpofiioto  X€XaafjL4vof  cirArro  vitcrit, 
6TnT6r€  hmpri€vri  7T€pinXoKos  av;f/i«a  Sca/ioj  ii 

u<€Girjv  noXvevKTOv  dvta^tdt  pAprvpi  Bdxvui' 
dAAd  TToAiv  npofios  €0K€  Btr^pAxoS'  cfvc  hi^paMff 
SixBoL^iriVf  rj  hoKxov  cAcu'  rj  hfiwa  rMooai, 

rpls  fl€V  ioV  BopV  TTC/XTTC, 

Kcu  -nfiPportv  ^pa  pdXXu¥' 
oAA'  OT€  hr)  TO  T€rapTov  €iT€opaiJL€v  oivont  B^JcyylO 
€19  OKOTTov  dxpriiarov  €7njopov  cyx^  IdXXtav 
^T)pLdSr)s  imdponXos,  €ov  owdtBXov  dYwvf>s 
yapiPpov  iov  KaX€€<7K€,  koI  ovk€ti  ^aiV€To  S\opp€lir 
aXXd  p^Tacrrp€ifiaaa  SoXonXoKov  c25os>  *A^i^ 
haipLOVi,  PoTpv6€VTL  TTapiaraTO'  b€pKOfUvov  b^  7* 

SfLpxLTi  dcoTTcaUx}  XvTo  yovvaxa  ArjpioSijof 
€yvw  8*  dvSpofi€rj^  dnarriXiov  €uc6va  ftop^SfS 
}Aopp€0^  dvTiTvnoio  (f>€p€iv  plfirjpa  npomawov 
Koi  SoXov  rjTTCpOTTija  acxfnjs  €v6rja€v  'ABijyti^. 
158 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  49-79 

the  long  shaft,  for  instead  of  a  bear  appears  a  flame 
flickering  up  into  the  air  uninjured  !  I  see  a  boar 
rushing  and  I  hear  a  bull's  bellow,  instead  of  the 
boar  I  see  a  bull  lowering  his  head  sideways  and  stab- 
bing our  elephants  with  flashing  horns.  I  swing  my 
sword  against  all  sorts  of  beasts,  and  cannot  overcome 
that  one  beast.  I  behold  a  tree  and  take  aim,  but  it 
is  off  and  I  see  a  spout  of  water  curving  into  the  path 
of  the  sky.  Therefore  I  tremble  at  the  bewitched 
miracles  of  his  art,  and  shrink  from  the  changeable 
warfare  of  Dionysos.  But  I  will  confront  Bromios 
again,  until  I  lay  bare  the  cunning  enchantments  of 
Dionysos  the  botcher  of  guile  !  " 

^1  He  spoke,  and  a  second  time  armed  himself,  wild 
as  before  ;  again  the  uproar  of  battle  rose  on  the 
plain — there  after  the  seafight  he  met  Dionysos  in 
arms.  He  had  forgotten  the  former  victory  of 
Bromios,  when  his  neck  was  entangled  in  leafy  bonds 
and  he  offered  his  prayers  of  many  supplications  to 
Bacchos,  who  saw  it  all.  Again  he  was  a  soldier 
fighting  against  the  gods  ;  doubtful  only  whether  to 
kill  or  make  Bromios  a  slave.  Thrice  he  cast  a  spear, 
and  missed,  striking  nothing  but  air ;  but  when  the 
fourth  time  in  his  arrogance  Deriades  rushed  upon 
wineface  Bacchos,  and  cast  his  spear  through  the  air  at 
a  mark  which  could  not  be  hit,  he  called  his  goodson 
to  help  him — and  Morrheus  was  no  longer  to  be  seen, 
but  Athena  had  changed  her  deceptive  shape  and 
stood  beside  the  vinegod.  Deriades  saw  her,  and  his 
knees  trembled  with  overwhelming  fear :  he  under- 
stood that  the  human  shape  which  bore  the  likeness 
of  Morrheus  was  all  a  deception,  and  recognized  the 

159 


NONNOS 

T17V  fi€v  i&wv  /^^6yvao9  iytfittv,  cr  KpMff  hk  •• 

tlf€vbofjJirqv  yuKoaK€  awaixii/^finaop  *AMn|r. 
Kcu  ror€  parpv6€i^  Koriuw  fiasextiiero  0«(pnii> 

^rjpia^v  5*  €biwK€  raxvSpopo¥'  ojdr^  6  ^ii^wv 
KoviJMs  €7r€iyofi€vaii  hvraurrro  aMjpOfiOf  oljpaif' li 
dAA*  ore  x<^P<>^  rWavov,  0117}  iroAf/AiyrAfor  Aai|p 
KVfian  Xvaautoyri  y4po>v  9C€\ap>u^€¥  nTMnnir, 
iJtoi  o  ficv  TTorafUHO  rrap*  "^vai  dvXrrot  ^<my, 
CO?  y€V€rr)v  awiUBXov  €x<t>v  K€XaBotrra  /la^^i^r^ 
vypoi'  oxom-ioT^pa  Kopvaao^Uvov  Aiovuoov,  W 

halpxiiv  S*  d/xTrcAoci?  ra^aixpoa  dvpac¥  i^XXatm 
oKporarov  XP^  fioGvov  iviypa/^  Hrfpiabtjof. 
avTop  6  KiacnTcvri  rvntU  ^ur^jjvopi  BaXXf 
Trar/Mooi  npoKciprjvo^  €nu»Xuj0ifa€  ^iBptif, 
firjK€havols  /icAccoac  yc^pcuoa;  2iAor  uSoi|p  W 

avTOfiarog,    XP^^^I^  ^  ^*^  fiereL  ^nSXaww  *IiMp 
ovy  Alt  nafifi€^€ovri  ndXiv  voarrfimp  *OAi//iir^. 
BGuc;^oi  3*  a/Li^aAaAa{^ov  d&rjptrov  Atovfiaov 
brjpw  av€vd^oirr€9,  ooAAiJon-o  bi  iT<iXXol 
€yx€aiv  ovrd^ovT€^  oXov  XP^  ^rjpio&rjoi.  100 

*Opaij3oT7  8'  wfiw(€  noXvSpT^vwv  <Vi  unljpyairf 
K€ifjL€vov  dpTiSdiKTov  6SvpofjL€vrj  TTopajKoirqir 
7r€v6aX€Oi,s  8*  o»a;;(€(7<7i  KaT€ypaif>€  kvkXol  vpoawmov^ 
Kol  aKoXiijs  (jjXoip€v  dtcqbia  fiarpw  tBtlfnfq, 
KoX  Koviv  aWaXo^aGov  €oO  irarr^^cvc  Kopi^fw  lOS 

XctfwjSir;  8'  oAoAufe  Kara/^ipJvoio  ronr^o;,  10^ 

Kvav€ovs  8*  TJpaaG€  ppaxiova^,  dpyv^dov  hi  106 

arepvov  oXov  yvixvwa€  Six<^iofx4voio  x^rurvas'  107 

IIpooToroT}  8*  a7r€8iAo9  cas*  fuovaa  ira/>cuU,  100 

160 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  80-109 

deluding  trick  of  wise  Athena.  But  Dionysos  was 
glad  when  he  saw  Athena,  and  knew  in  his  heart 
that  she  had  been  helping  him  in  disguise. 

^^  Then  the  grapy  deity  was  maddened  with  anger. 
He  rose  lofty  and  huge,  like  the  rock  of  Parnassos,  and 
pursued  swiftrunning  Deriades ;  he  raced  off  light 
and  quick  as  the  hurrying  winds,  but  when  they 
reached  the  place  where  ancient  Hydaspes  rolled  his 
warbreeding  water  in  wild  bubbling  waves,  he  stood 
immense  on  the  river  bank  as  having  now  an  ally, 
his  father,  roaring  loud,  to  shoot  with  his  waters 
against  Dionysos  in  battle :  there  the  vine-deity 
cast  his  fleshcutting  thyrsus  and  just  grazed  the  skin 
of  Deriades.  Struck  with  the  mandestroying  ivy 
bunch  he  slipt  headfirst  into  his  father's  flood,  and 
bridged  all  that  water  himself  with  his  long  frame. 

^^  Now  the  long  Indian  War  was  ended,  the  gods  re- 
turned again  to  Olympos  with  Zeus  the  Lord  of  all ; 
the  Bacchants  cheered  in  triumph  around  Dionysos 
the  invincible,  crying  Euoi  for  the  conflict,  and  many 
thronged  round  Deriades  piercing  him  everywhere 
with  their  spears." 

^^^  Orsiboe  wailed  on  the  battlements  with  a  loud 
lamentable  dirge,  sorrowing  for  her  husband  who  lay 
so  newly  slain  ;  she  scratched  her  cheeks  with  her 
fingernails  in  sorrow,  and  heedlessly  tore  out  bunches 
of  her  curling  hair,  and  poured  smoking  ashes  on 
her  head.  Cheirobie  lamented  for  her  dead  father, 
and  scored  her  black  arms,  rent  her  white  robe  and 
bared  all  her  breast ;    Protonoe  *  unshod  tore  her 

<*  From  the  appearance  of  Athena  in  the  shape  of  Morrheus 
to  this  line,  the  death  of  Hector  in  Iliad  xxii.  is  closely 
imitated. 

"  Daughter  of  Deriades,  wife  of  Orontes  (xxvi.  17). 
VOL.  Ill  M  161 


NONNOS 

KVKXa  KoviaaXdoio  #faTOMrYWO«m  wpoawmmf,  110 

KXaUv  in*  afuftoTtpoiai  teat  iv4pii  koX  yfprr^pt, 
hnrXoov  oAyoff  cvoiHra,  kox  Zajfi  ircvMoi  ^omrj* 

**  ^Avtp,  an   aiwi'O^  1V09  a»A<o*  ir^  8*  4>^  J|4^y 
eAAtTTcj  cV  yL€yapoujiv  antifiifnpf  rotcmto* 
irqniov  ov  r€Kov  via  napax/^aaw  od  U4ra  nirar       tlf 
vooTLfjLov  dvBpa  vor^aa  ro  h^vrtpov,  a}Xk  tfiSyy 
avTos  c4>  hthfirfTo,  fcal  owofia  bdm€  ^i0poit» 
Kol  6dv€v  €v  fcivounv,  oYTcuf  ^/ior  a»'8pa  KoXJaom 
danopov  aurobdiKrov  ovoori/ior  vypov  'Op^mpr. 
fivpofiat,  dfi<l>OT(pov^  Kol  ^yjpioh^v  «rai  'Op^rflfr*     |J0 
f(7ov  dno<f>difi€vov^  bupoy  fiopov  da^po^itmf  y^ 
^rjpidbrjv  KpvifK  KVfxa,  p6o^  o    itcdXvifKV  *OpArtff. 
fnjTcpi  8'  ov  y€v6firiv  rravofioUof'  *Opatfid>fi  y^ 
dvyarcpiov  TJ€ia€  Kara^ofUvovi  ifitPaUwt' 
Uporrovorjs  ydfiov  c^Scv, 

€b4(aTO  yofifipw  *Opitm^,      IM 
Xei/>oj3iT^y  8*  €^€v(€V  dyucrjrat  napatcolrji, 
ov  Tpop,€€i  Kal  Jidxxos  6  rqXucoi'  dft/^Untt  fUp 
\eipoplT)  fcaom-a  <f>iXov  nooiv,  ov  h4  i  B6paof, 
ov  poos  €npi^vL^€V'  €yw  o    apa  div^oa  irooj^ui, 
dvepos  ol\oyL€voio  koX  dXXvfi€vov  ycvrr^pcK.  |J0 

A^€,  fidrrjv  a€o  nalba  naprjyop€ovaa,  TtBr/ini), 
Soy  ftot  €X€iv  €px>v  dv^pa,  koI  ov  Y€vrnjpa  yoAam' 
Scl^ov  ifiol  Tt»^  Trat&a,  napijyopov  dvOpog  ApOfg.  |j| 
Tt?  fji€  AajScoi'  KOfiia€t€v  cV  €vpvp€€Bpov  'V8a<nn|r,  |j§ 
o^pa  KVGO)  <f>iXov  otSfia  pi€\ujray€os  vonuwio;  lj$ 
rls  fi€  AajSo^i'  KOfiCa€i€v  cV  Upd  rifinta  Ao^n^,  I94 
o^pa  nepLTTTV^aifii  Kai  ev  npovo^cnv  *OiM$m|r;  197 

ctTjv  Ifiepocig  Kol  eyw  poos'  oi^c  #f<u  ovri) 
BdKpvaiv  o^Pprjdclaa  <t>avTi<rofiai  airrddi  irtfy^, 
^X*  Oavdiv  €vvbpos  ifxds  noais  ol^fia  icuAiyOCi,  lit 

169 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  110-140 

cheeks  and  smeared  her  face  all  over  with  dirty  dust, 
weeping  for  both  husband  and  father,  with  twofold 
agony,  and  cried  in  tones  of  sorrow — 

^^^  "  Husband,  how  young  you  have  lost  your  life  ! 
You  have  left  me  a  widow  in  the  house  ere  I  have 
borne  a  child,  no  baby  son  I  have  to  console  me  !  I 
never  saw  my  husband  come  home  a  second  time  after 
victory,  but  he  slew  himself  with  his  own  steel,  and 
gave  his  name  to  the  stream,  and  died  among 
strangers,  that  I  should  have  to  call  the  watery 
Orontes  my  husband,  childless,  self-slain,  never  re- 
turned !  I  wail  for  both  Deriades  and  Orontes,  both 
perished  by  one  watery  fate  :  Deriades  the  death  of 
many  men  was  buried  in  the  wave,  the  flood  swallowed 
Orontes.  But  I  am  not  like  my  mother ;  for  Orsiboe 
sang  her  hymn  over  her  daughters'  weddings  accom- 
plished, she  saw  the  marriage  of  Protonoe,  she  re- 
ceived Orontes  as  goodson,  she  joined  Cheirobie  to  an 
unconquered  husband,  whom  Bacchos  trembled  at 
great  as  he  is  ;  Cheirobie  has  her  dear  husband  alive, 
no  thyrsus,  no  flood  has  brought  him  down — but  I  it 
seems  doubly  suffer,  my  husband  gone  and  my  father 
perished. 

^^^  "  Cease  to  comfort  your  child,  my  nurse,  all  in 
vain.  Let  me  have  my  husband,  and  I  will  not  be- 
wail my  father  ;  show  me  a  child  to  console  me  for 
my  husband's  loss  !  Who  will  take  me  and  bring  me 
to  the  broad  stream  of  Hydaspes,  that  I  may  kiss  the 
wave  of  that  honey  dropping  river  ?  Who  will  take  me 
and  bring  me  to  the  sacred  vale  of  Daphne,  that  I 
may  embrace  Orontes  even  in  the  waters  ?  O  that 
I  too  could  be  a  lovely  stream  !  O  that  I  might  also 
become  a  fountain  there,  watered  by  my  own  tears, 
a  watery  bride  where  my  husband  dead  rolls  his 

163 


NONNOS 

€uv€Tty  uSaToccToa'  koI  €000^101  olia  KofioiM^ 
^  7rdpo9  iyL€p6€VTo^  tpaatrafUyti  trottifioSb 
rdfrnerai  dyKas  €xovGa  Koi  tla^rt  KdSi^or  d4rorn|r« 
haipos  rifjL€T€pov  napd  Moppdof  olo¥  /mtroif 
avSpdai  -nap  KiAiVcaai  fUfitiXAra  flOSim  ittoik^'      14f 
ou  /i€v  €>/***  TTo0€ovaa  irap^px^liOA  i)5iW  'Qp^mpr^ 
ofa  <f>uyds  Ucpifioia,  tcai  ov  vort  irofifnUor  Ac«|p 
a^  avaaci/xi^lotKra  ^vXafofiai  vypw  atcoi'njpp. 
€t  8€  ftoi  ov  TTcVptuTO  ^avciv  flropa  yciroM  ^A4f^» 
KVfjLaGi  TTarpondriop  fu  Kartucpij^ifv  'TS(iaVf||,     110 
/X17  Sarupou  K€p6€VTos  €v  dyKoiyDGiy  tavow,  IM 

fx^  Opt^a  Kotfiov  iBco,  /x^  KVfifiaXa,  X^P^  Tti^d(mt  Ul 
/X17  TcA€Ti7i'  rcAcaoi  iJHXonaiyfLova,  hV^  vci^aw  UB 
MaioviT^v,  ^17  T/LUi>Aov  tScu,  ^117  5a»/ia  AiNUOV  Ut 

^  ^vya  hovXocrvvrj^  ^apvaxB^a,  fiij  n;  Mff^'  IM 

'  Kovprq  ^TipidBao  hopiBpao4oi  pamXrjos 
Xr)ihlrj  fierd  hrjpiv  xmohprqtrati  Aiovucr^.'  " 

*Q.s  <l>ap.€VTjs  cAecim  <Tvv€cn'€vdxotrro  yv¥au€€f, 
cjv  ndiSt  cjv  T€9vrjK€v  aScA^o^,  wv  y€V€Tijp€S 
ri  TToms  dpTiy€V€LOS  diupios.     €k  &€  tcapfijvov  |60 

KeipoPlrj  TiXXovaa  KOfx-qv  rjfiv(€  iropcta;* 
Six^ablais  8*  oSutT^aiv  tfidaG€To,  Kai  ytyrnjptg 
ov  Toaov  €ar€vdxt-t,€v ,  oaov  i^ficm^cv  okoitq' 
€kXv€  yap  Mopprjos  ipoipLavlovaav  dvdytnf¥ 
Koi  80A0V  rjTTcpoTrija  aa6<f>pova  XoAKO/x^Scci/f .  lift 

KaL  TLva  pivOov  ccittci'  eov  pnfi^aua  ;(trtui<a* 

•  Not   mentioned   elsewhere.      There  ir*»  «   C . 

daughter  of  Pterelaos,  who  loved  Amphitrjon.  and  chI 
Pterelaos^s  golden  hair  which  made  him  ImmoriaL 
killed  by  Amphitryon. 

164 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  141-166 

beautiful  waters  !  Then  I  shall  be  hke  Comaitho," 
who  in  olden  days  was  enamoured  of  a  lovely  river 
and  still  has  the  joy  of  holding  Cydnos  her  husband 
in  her  arms,  as  I  hear  is  a  favourite  story  among  those 
Cihcian  men.  So  says  Morrheus  my  goodbrother. 
But  I  am  not  like  runaway  Periboia  ^  ;  I  will  not  pass 
charming  Orontes  whom  I  love,  I  will  not  draw  back 
my  winding  water  and  avoid  a  watery  spouse.  If  it. 
was  not  ordained  that  I  should  die  near  his  neighbour 
Daphne,  may  Hydaspes  my  father's  father  drown  me 
in  his  waves,  and  save  me  from  sleeping  in  the  arms 
of  a  horned  Satyr,  and  seeing  Phrygian  revels, 
rattling  their  cymbals  in  my  hands,  joining  their 
sportive  rites  ;  that  I  may  not  see  Maionia  and 
Tmolos,  the  house  of  Lyaios  or  the  all-burdensome 
yoke  of  slavery  ;  that  men  may  not  say — *  The 
daughter  of  Deriades  the  spearbold  king,  taken  cap- 
tive after  the  war,  is  now  a  servant  to  Dionysos.'  " 

158  When  she  had  finished  the  women  groaned 
piteously  with  her,''  those  who  had  lost  a  son  or  a 
brother,  whose  fathers  were  dead  or  husband  un- 
timely taken,  with  the  down  on  his  chin.  And 
Cheirobie  tore  the  hair  from  her  head  and  scored  her 
cheeks  ;  she  was  tormented  by  double  sorrow,  and 
she  groaned  not  so  much  for  her  father  as  she  was 
indignant  against  her  husband,  for  she  had  heard  the 
enamoured  passion  of  her  husband  and  the  delusive 
guile  of  chaste  Chalcomedeia.**  She  rent  her  dress 
and  spoke  : 

^  Unknown ;  unless  she  is  that  Periboia  who  was  wife  of 
Oineus  of  Calydon.  See  the  play  of  Pacuvius,  entitled 
Periboia  {Remains  of  Old  Latin^  L.C.L.  ii.,  pp.  274  IF.). 

"  An  echo  of  Iliad  xxii.  515.  This  whole  passage  is  a 
feeble  imitation  of  the  wailing  for  Hector. 

**  Cf.  bks.  xxxiii.-xxxv. 

165 


NONNOS 

y€v4rqv  i^iov  Hfcratft  MofpfSt* 

ovh^  77- Ac  <l>6ifi€vov  rifi-qopof-  iyfiouSrw  ii 
XaXKOfi€hrjv  noOecjv  ovk  rjXao€  BiJAV¥    Erwtf, 
oAA'  €Ti  BaaaaptScaai  x<»/>*{<^«*-    ftwart,  hUiptU'  ITO 
rls  S^ovos  *\v8arnv  noXty  rnpoBt; 

Tit  4061^  lh» 

€XpcL€v  an4aT€ fyjuui  Bvyarp^  ^nptahijos: 
dvTjaKWv  fi€v  Kara  hrjpw  cfpf  trapaxoiruf  *OpSmif 
IlpwTovoTjv  aKOfuarov  €0rJKaro  ntvOaha  xhf^» 
XcipoPlrjv  8'  aWciTTcv  cti  (cSoucmv  axoirnf*  IW 

yvojTTis  8*  rifi€T€prjs  oXoantpa  irqfiara  vooxm* 
UparrovoT]  TToaiv  €ay€v  aoaanrrjpa  n^i5n^, 
\eipopCrj  iTOOLV  €<rx€V  €rj^  hrtArifiova  narfnjt, 
alxfJL'Tirrjv  dvovrjrov,  ondova  Kinrpoycvciiy^ 
oXki^jlov,  dXXoTrpoaaXXov,  o^to^tpovtoiTa  Avaitp,        lit 
€19  €fi€  6a)pTj)^Brj  Koi  Cfio?  ydfio^'  rnitriptw  yap 
}Aopp€os  lfJL€ipovTos  €avXTjOrj  iToXig    Ivbwv 
naTpos  ivoG(f>laOr)v  xapiv  dvtpo^'  ri  rtpw  ayi^Mnp 
Kal  OvyaTTjp  jSaatA^oy,  iyw  wore  otairorif  Atiuiv, 
caaojiai  dpL<f>nr6Xoiv  koX  cvcu  /ua*  irat  ra;(a  3ciA^    lii 
hfjLwC8a  XoA/co/xcSciav  ^firfv  BtoTroway  hniJHu* 
Grjfiepov  *lvh6v  ISc^Aov  €X**^»  dnarrjXu  }Aoppt8' 
avpLov  avTOKeXexKrros  cAcuaccu  ciy  x^ova  Avociir, 
XoA/co/xeSi^S'  8ia  kolAAos'  vnoSp-qaawv  Aiovvoip. 
d/x^aSd  \aXKop,€hrjs  c^e  ^fivia,  i'vp4*^  Moop€V'    190 
ovK€TL  yap  Tpop,€€LS  ^Xoovpov  OTo/xa  Ai}p«aoi^. 
;(d^€o,  Kc/cA^a/c€i  ac  SpaKtov  irdXiv,  o^  ac  Smukcc 
<f>povp6v  dcrvX'qToio  ydpov  avpvyp,6v  idXXujv.*' 

Tola  /X€v  dxyvpiivTi  papvSdjcpvo^  €wen€  >^fi^' 
IlpcoTovory  8*  oAoAufc  TO  8€trr€^v.     oft^orc/xu;  5^  lt5 
X€t/)as  iiTiKXlvaaa  KaT7]<f>€as  iax€  fi'qrrip' 
166 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  167-196 

167  "  By  sparing  his  spear  Morrheus  killed  my 
father,  and  no  one  avenged  his  death.  For  desire 
of  that  hateful  Chalcomede  he  did  not  rout  the 
women  on  the  field — nay,  he  still  shows  favour  to 
the  Bassarids.  Tell  me,  Fates;  what  jealousy"  de- 
stroyed the  Indian  city  ?  What  jealousy  came  down 
suddenly  upon  both  daughters  of  Deriades  ?  Dying 
on  the  battlefield,  Orontes  made  his  wife  Protonoe  a 
widow  to  mourn  uncared-for  ;  Cheirobie  still  living 
was  repudiated  by  her  husband.  And  I  have  more 
cruel  things  to  suffer  than  my  sister.  Protonoe  had 
a  husband  who  defended  her  that  nursed  him  ^  ; 
Cheirobie  had  a  husband  who  destroyed  his  country, 
a  useless  warrior,  the  lackey  of  Cyprogeneia,  a  strong 
man  unstable,  a  partisan  of  Lyaios.  Even  my  mar- 
riage was  my  enemy,  for  the  Indian  city  was  sacked 
because  my  Morrheus  fell  in  love.  I  was  robbed  of 
my  father  for  my  husband's  sake  ;  I  so  proud  once, 
and  daughter  of  a  king,  I  once  the  mistress  of  the 
Indians,  I  too  shall  be  one  of  the  servants ;  perhaps 
I  shall  be  so  unhappy  as  to  give  the  title  of  mistress 
to  Chalcomedeia  the  serf!  Traitor  Morrheus,  to-day 
India  is  your  home  ;  to-morrow  unbidden  you  will 
go  to  the  Lydian  land,  a  menial  of  Dionysos  because 
of  Chalcomede 's  beauty.  Husband  Morrheus,  make 
no  secret  of  your  union  with  Chalcomede  ;  for  you 
fear  no  longer  the  threatening  tongue  of  Deriades. 
Begone  !  the  serpent  calls  you  back,  the  one  that 
chased  you  away  with  hisses  from  the  wedding  which 
you  failed  to  force  !  " 

1^*  Thus  lamented  the  wife  with  heavy  tears,  and 
Protonoe  wailed  a  second  time.  Their  mother  rested 
an  arm  on  each  and  dolorously  cried^ — 

*  Jealousy  of  the  gods.  "  His  country. 

167 


sossos 

*'  UarpiBos  rifurdpri^  irtaov  iXntift' 

ovicdn  Xtiiaom 
dvdpa  ^7)pta^r}a  koI  oinciri  yafLBp6¥  *Op<^'"v 
ArjpidSr^g  T€6vr)K€V'  ccruAi)^  iroAif  'IiMr, 
appay€9  rjpine  t€ixo9  <V^  x^*****^*  ^"^  ***  ovnjr  •• 
Bci/cxo?  cAa>v  oXtaj)  fi€  aw  iXXutUmff  ffOMffO^rf, 
Kal  fi€  AajSoiv  puptuv  cV  oticvpitipoif  TUtlHlfV* 
yauxv  OKCUPOftcirn*'-  ix^rut  W  /K  W€iS€pim  Simp, 
Arjpia^v  8*  ia&w  kcu  cv  uSoat*  /ai^  moi^ow 
riporroi^OT^i'  acVouaou/  €^<mopAyrj¥  AiotM^t  ^^ 

/i^  TTOTC  X€ipopirj^  €r€pou  yoov  oiKTponf  hiniam 
€XKop.€VT]^  cV  €porra  Sopticrrp'cjv  vftcMUOfi^ 
/X17  TToaiv  oAAoi'  rSoifu  /x<r*  avtpa  Ai^piaS^. 
€11] V  NiyiaScaaiv  SfUario^,  otti  teal  aMfv 
AevKodcTiy  ^oKfvaav  c&cfaro  #cuaix)x<uTi^,  SIO 

/cat  /iui  N7i/>€i5toi^  KixXi^Kirai,  dvrl  bt  Xiweijf 
dXXrj  Kvavo7T€^a  <f>ainjGOfjuu  vSpia^  'I wo." 

Tota  p,€v  €XK€x^TaiV€s  iirwhvpovro  yuvalKMt 
lardp.evai  crroixj]^*'  epiafiapdycju  itri  nvpywt^, 

Ba/c^oi  8'  iKpordXiiov  anoppli^Hiyrt^  *£a^ucu»  215 

ToloV  €1T09  Po6wVT€S  OpjOyXuHtOWV  OMO  XoifUJjV 

**  *Hpa/xc^a  fi€ya  kv^os' 

€7r€<f>vop.€v  6pxafLO¥  *IlM&Mr." 

Kat  yeXowv  ^towao^  cVolAActo  x<^>/^^'>^  f^*f^» 
dfiTTVcvaa^  8c  ttovoio  kcu  alfiar6€VTOi  dyc2»K>S' 
irpwra  fiev  cfcrepctf cv  cztu/x/Scvtwv  <rrixa  vtKpAm,    flD 
8a>/x7}cra?  cva  rvfjL^v  diriipirov  cvp4i  KoXwift 
aKpiTov  dpxf>l  TTVpTjv  €KaT6fnr€bov'  dfi^  H  vtKpdit 
Muy8oyt?  atoAo/AoATTos-  €n€Krvn€v  aZAiva  <nSpty(, 
Koi  Opvyc?  ayAi/T^pc?  dvcTrAcicoi'  a/K7€va  /loAin^r 

•  Ino  is  also  called  Leucothca,  **  white 
**  sUver-footed  "  is  a  stock  epithet  of  Thctk. 
168 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  197-224 

197  **  TJ^e  hopes  of  our  country  have  perished  !  No 
longer  I  see  Deriades  my  husband,  no  longer  Orontes 
my  son.  Deriades  is  dead  ;  the  city  of  the  Indians 
is  plundered.  The  unbreakable  citadel  of  my  country 
has  fallen  :  would  that  I  myself  may  be  taken  by 
Bacchos  and  slain  with  my  dead  husband !  May  he 
seize  and  cast  me  into  the  swift-flowing  Hydaspes, 
for  I  refuse  the  earth.  Let  my  goodfather's  water 
receive  me,  may  I  see  Deriades  even  in  the  waters ; 
may  I  not  see  Protonoe  following  Dionysos  perforce, 
may  I  never  hear  another  piteous  groan  from 
Cheirobie  while  she  is  dragged  to  a  captive  wedlock  ; 
may  I  not  see  another  husband  after  Deriades,  my 
man.  May  I  dwell  with  the  Naiads,  since  Seablue- 
hair  received  Leucothea  also  living  and  she  is  called 
one  of  the  Nereids  ;  and  may  I  appear  another 
watery  Ino,  no  longer  white,  but  blackfooted."  " 

213  Such  were  the  lamentations  of  the  longrobed 
women,  standing  in  a  row  upon  the  loud-echoing 
battlements. 

215  But  the  Bacchoi  rattled  their  cymbals,  having 
now  made  an  end  of  warring,  and  they  cried  with  one 
voice  :  "  We  have  won  great  glory  !  we  have  slain 
the  Indian  chieftain  !  "  ^ 

218  And  Dionysos  laughed  aloud,  trembling  with 
the  joy  of  victory.  Now  resting  from  his  labours 
and  the  bloody  contest,  he  first  gave  their  due  to 
the  crowd  of  unburied  dead.  He  built  round  the 
pyre  one  vast  tomb  for  all  alike  with  a  wide  bosom, 
a  hundred  feet  long.  Round  about  the  bodies  the 
melodious  Mygdonian  syrinx  sounded  their  dirge, 
and  the  Phrygian  pipers  wove  their  manly  tune  with 

^  Quoted  from  Iliad  xxii.  393,  with  opxayLov  *lvhd>v  for 
*E/n-o/)a  Siov. 


NONNOS 

TTcvdaXtois  oTo/iarcaaiv,  tntjpxnoturro  W  B^Jryai 

Kal  KAcoxou  Bcp€»fwr€9  wo  ar6fia  hilwY^fjMol 
^piKTov  €fivKrjaavro  A^w  y6o¥,  Sv  wApOt  < 
Ilden'co  r*  Evpt/oAiy  re  fu j  YroAvSfipciSi  ^Ml^ 
apTirofiw  poiirjbov  irrtKXuvanvro  MtSotSo^l 
<l>d€'yyofj,€vu}v  K€<^aXfjai  hirjtcoaijjat  hptu(6tmt¥, 
dtv  dno  fivpofjUvwv  gkoXiov  ovpcy/ia  iro|A^oir 
Bfnjvov  iTOvXvKoorivov  c^fu^avro  MfftotMrTf . 

riavGra/xcvo;  0^  novoio,  kox  vSan  yvla 
W7raa€  Xvai^doiai  Btovb^a  t(oipavo¥  *lrSoSr» 
KpLvdfji€vos  MuiBcuoP'  inl  (wtft  5^  tcvn^Xk^ 
haKxoif  haiwfi€voiai  furj^  n^ovro  rpaW{i|f 
^avOov  vBwp  trivovTt^  dtr*  oivanopov  mnoftoio. 
Kal  xopos  aoTTCTo^  caKcv*  i'n€aKipmftn  5^  iroAAi7 
Baaaapi;  otarpi^evri  rrthov  Kpovovaa  nthiXtgf,  I 

icat  LaTupos"  piapvhoxmov  inipprjaautv  j($6va  rtMpo^ 
Aofa  Kvpiarrjrfjpi  no^v  ^ojc^vtro  naXfL^, 

TTTJxyV    iTTLKXlVCJV   fiaVuJjS€OS    CLVY4vt    BcUf^fiy^* 

Kal  7rpvX€€s  Bpo/xioto  awcjpxnaamo  pfHUUf, 
Kal  TpoxdXrjs  KXov€oyT€^  CKorrAia  KV9cXa  vopcii^ 
pvOfiov  ipupLi^cravTo  ^p€aGaK€u»v  Kopvfiayrtii¥f 
Kal  cnparos  lirmqcjv  KopvBaiaXov  et;  XOP^  iofif 
VLKTjv  TTavhap,dT€ipav  dvtx^diufv  Aiovvoov* 
ovSd  Tis  dipo<l>os  tJcv*  ofwyXtoGutfj  &'  oAaATrar 

€t?   TToXoV   iTTrd^tOVOV  dv€hpafL€V   CtH09   i7X<*'* 

*AAA*  oT€  AuaiTrdi'Oio  fropTJAv^c  KwpLOS  ioprifi, 
vLk7)s  Xr]!Za  Trdaav  cXwv  furd  ^vXomiv  ^Xi^tav 

•  Pindar,  Pytk,  xiL  33  ^ves  this  origin  of  the  taM  oOW 

iroAufcc^oAof — iroAAay  irf^aAav  voftor,  tile  tune  of  DUUIT  iMldl* 

^  A  particularly  bad  imitation  of  Homer.     Adiuk*  la  Mi 
grief  for  Patrodos  refufics  to  w«j»h  till  lie  Imm 
170 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  225-252 

mournful  lips,  while  the  Bacchant  women  danced  and 
Ganyctor  trolled  his  dainty  song  with  Euian  voice. 
The  double  Berecyntian  pipes  in  the  mouth  of 
Cleochos  drooned  a  gruesome  Libyan  lament,  one 
which  long  ago  both  Sthenno  and  Euryale  with  one 
manythroated  voice  sounded  hissing  and  weeping 
over  Medusa  newly  gashed,  while  their  snakes  gave 
out  voice  from  two  hundred  heads,  and  from  the 
lamentations  of  their  curling  and  hissing  hairs  they 
uttered  the  "  manyheaded  dirge  of  Medusa."  <* 

2^*  Now  resting  from  his  labours,  he  cleansed  his 
body  with  water,**  and  assigned  a  governor  for  the 
Indians,  choosing  the  godfearing  Modaios  '^ ;  they 
now  pacified  touched  one  table  with  banqueting 
Bacchoi  over  a,  common  bowl,  and  drank  the  yellow 
water  from  the  winebreeding  river.  There  was 
dancing  without  end.  Many  a  Bassarid  skipt  about, 
tapping  the  floor  with  wild  slipper  ;  many  a  Satyr 
stormed  the  resounding  ground  with  heavy  foot,  and 
revelled  with  side-trippings  of  his  tumbling  feet  as 
he  rested  an  arm  on  the  neck  of  some  maddened 
Bacchant.  The  foot-soldiers  of  Bromios  danced  round 
with  their  oxhides  and  mimicked  the  pattern  of  the 
shieldbearing  Corybants,  wildly  circling  in  the  quick 
dance  under  arms.  The  horsemen  in  their  glancing 
helmets  also  stood  up  for  the  dance,  acclaiming  the 
all  vanquishing  victory  of  Dionysos.  Not  a  soul  was 
silent — the  Euian  tones  went  up  to  the  sevenzone  sky 
with  shouts  of  triumph  from  every  tongue. 

^^  But  when  the  revels  of  the  carefree  feast  were 
over,  and  Dionysos  had  gathered  all  the  spoil  after  his 

//.  xxiii.  39  ff.  Dionysos  apparently  does  the  same  for  no 
particular  reason. 

*  Mentioned  in  xxxii.  165. 

171 


NONNOS 

AiHTaj  €iTra€Tr\pa  d€fi€iXia  hTfiorffro^. 

/cat  St^uui'  oXov  oXPov  tXniiotrro  fiax^fral,  SM 

<jjv  6  fi€v  *\vb6v  laamv,  o  W  ypour^  &uru^ov 

OotjSaSo?  cfx*  U€TaXXa  koI  €yxAoa  i^Imi  /lo^^ySoir 

oAAo;  ivKpnfiiTiAos  \m6  aKontijaw  'I/aomni 

opOiov  r^w)?  cTTCiyc  5opi*CT7/Ta>r  Af^^anwr^ 

6?  S<  Trap*  'Hfia>5ou>  /So^tNnniAvyyt  KoXuMfQ  ItO 

i^Aaaev  *li'5<j>ca»'  /icrai^cumoi^  apfia  Acorroir 

icuSiocu)',  €r€po^  b€  Kar    avxtvos  a^^Uk  wA^tm 

lAvyhoviriv  toTrevhtv  is  ^ova  n6p&aXt¥  iXtnw 

Kol  Hdrvpos  'n€^pfjTo,  ^iXatcprfTt^  Si  vrrriKtp 

OTLKTOV  C^COf  TTpOKtXtvBoV  ttCWfAOOt  TVyp^  ^idoOm^'  Ml 

oAAo?  dywv  voarrjotv  ifj  Kv^Xtfihi  yvft^ll 
<l>irraXiriv  €voh^ov  oAiTpc^oiv  bovoKi^v, 
Kal  XLBov  aoTpaTrrovaav  *EpvSpturfs  Y^fMS  oAfiiyf 
W0AA17  8*  €K  BaXdfioio  aw  dprtydfutt  noMucoiTg 
Xtjihl-q  TrXoKafjLOJV  fieXavoxP*^^  IXictro  wfi4^,  170 

hia^iuiv  aj5;(ei^  hovXov  vTroJcwfoaa  A<ira5w^. 
;(€ipi  3c  Kov<f>il^ovaa  pur)<f>€V€os  x^^*'^  oXfiov 
€t?  (JKOTrta?  T/xtoAoto  ^coacrvro?  iju  Bair)p|« 
Kwyiov  dv€vdt,ovaa  TraXiyvocrrtft  \u>vva(ft. 

Kai  orpaTifj  ^lowoog  c^oocmro  AniSa  x'HH*^     ^^ 
Aooi^  oAov  ouvac^Aov  imorpotrov  oucaoc  ir^vwr 
'IvSoii^v  /xcra  hr\piv'  dtr^aotvovro  &€  Aaoi 
fjuipfxapa  Kov4>it,ovT€9  'Ecoia  5ojpa  OaXdaofK, 
opved  T*  aloX6p.op<f>a'  naXiwoarw  5c  iropcciy 
KWfMov  dv€vdl,ovT€s  dvuc^Tut  ^iovwua  M> 


•  Hyacinthos  a^in  !     The  stone  has  no  ooonesdos  wMl 

the  god,  but  the  fact  that  it  has  the  same 

is  enough  to  awaken  Nonnos's 

173 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  253-280 

Indian  War,  he  remembered  the  land  of  his  ancient 
home,  now  he  had  swept  away  the  foundations  of  that 
seven  years'  conflict.  The  whole  wealth  of  the  enemy 
was  given  to  the  army  as  their  plunder.  One  got  an 
Indian  jasper,  one  the  jewel  of  Phoibos's  patterned 
sapphire "  and  the  smooth  green  emerald ;  another 
hurried  under  the  lofty  peaks  of  broad-based  Imaios  ^ 
the  straight-legged  elephants  which  he  had  captured  by 
his  spear.  Here  was  one  by  the  deepcavemed  moun- 
tain of  Hemodos  "  driving  to  exile  a  team  of  Indian 
lions,  in  triumph ;  there  was  another  pulling  a  panther 
to  the  Mygdonian  shore  with  a  chain  fast  about  its 
neck.  A  Satyr  rushed  along  with  a  striped  tiger  before 
him,  which  he  flogged  in  his  wild  way  with  a  handful  of 
tippling-leaves.  Another  returned  with  a  gift  for  his 
Cybeleid  ^  bride,  the  fragrant  plants  of  seagrown  reeds 
and  the  shining  stone  ^  which  is  the  glory  of  the 
Erythraian  brine.  Many  a  blackskin  bride  was 
dragged  out  of  her  chamber  by  the  hair,  her  neck 
bound  fast  under  the  yoke  of  slavery,  spoil  of  war 
along  with  her  newly  wedded  husband.  The  Bac- 
chant woman  god-possessed  returned  to  the  hills  of 
Tmolos  with  hands  full  of  streaming  riches,  chanting 
Euoi  for  the  return  of  Dionysos. 

^"^^  So  Dionysos  distributed  the  spoils  of  battle 
among  his  followers,  after  the  Indian  War,  and  sent 
returning  home  the  whole  host  who  had  shared  his 
labours.  The  people  made  haste  to  go,  laden  with 
shining  treasures  of  the  Eastern  sea  and  birds  of  many 
strange  forms.  Their  return  was  a  triumphal  march 
with  universal  acclaim  to  Dionysos  the  invincible; 

^  Himalaya. 

"  Himalaya,  Imaios  in  258. 

*  Phrygian.  «  Pearl. 

173 


NOVVMG 

7rdvT€S  €^K\€Vovro,  noXvKjn^rnto  Xiworrtt 
fivrjoTLv  oXov  TToAf/xoio,   Hop*id6i  awhpofuw  afyfl 

oi/jifiov  ct?  So/xoi'  tJA^c  naXuSpofiOf,    irA  M  w^ifpitfi 
*Acrr€pLos  r6r€  fiovvof  aynnxmiStM^  ojfcUr'A^fmir 
^daiBos  dfi<l>i  p€€dpov  dSaXndi  vdoparo  yoifj 
Maaaaytrqv  napa  KoXnov,  €oO  ycWrao  Tcxrijog 

VOiWV   d<TT€p6€VTO^    UTTO    O^VpO.    StSoPI^    To^jpOV* 

<f>€vya)v  Kvwaaiov  darv  Koi  opovr^muda  /a4Mip« 
llaaK^T^v  arvy€0)v  Ktu  iov  Wivwa  roir^, 
Kal  l^Kvdirjv  9r/>o/3€)3ouAcv  €^  x^oi^tJf  • 

avTop  6  fiioAfOtif 
BdK^og  €01?  Sarvpoun  icou  *Im$o^<$mmc  ci|iA  B^Urxoic 
KavKaoirfv  /icra  5i7piv  *Afai(oyuKi  worofiofe 

*AppaPlT]g   €7r€pCUVt   to  h€VTtpO¥,   ^x}   ^/'fljttW^ 

Aaoi'  dpaKx^vTiuv  *ApdPwv  cSiSafrv  ac^Miy 
fjLVGTLTToXovs  vdpdrjKas'  dcfi^vroio  5^  X&yjLfff 
Nuaia  PoTpvocvTL  /car^orc^v  oupca  0aAA<Jf. 

^AppapL-qs  5c  revovra  PaBvatciov  aXaog  idaat 
drpanov  *Aaavpi'qv  hupilrptt  V€l^o^  oSirtf^, 
Kal  Tvpitov  ii€V€axv€v  Ihflv  yBova  narpiha  KaS^iov* 
Kct^t  yap  t^voy  €KapjL€,  kox  doTrcTa  viiiXn  SoKCucur 
6dp.p€€v  ^AaGvpij)s  €T€p6xpoa  hathaXa,  r^xmilf, 
dpyviJMv  €taop6wv  hafiyXwyCBos  tpyov  'A/nx^^' 
#cai  TvpiT)  GKonta^c  B^hevfjieva  ifxip€a  ird;(Aa>, 
7Top<f>vp€ovs  crmvOijpa^  djcovri^ovra  BaXaaarff, 
^X*  'fy<Jt>»'  oAicpyo?  cV  aiyioAormt'  €p€7rruj¥ 
ivSofivxov  xapoTTfJGi  ycj^idai  B€qk€Xov  Ixj^ 
Xiovcag  TT6p<f>vp€  naprjiSa^  alftan  koxXov, 


•  Because  the  great  Bear  nerer  dips  into  the 
*  Now  the  Rioo. 
174 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  281-308 

all  revelled,  for  they  left  behind  them  all  memory  of 
that  toilsome  war,  to  blow  away  with  the  north  wind, 
and  each  came  returning  home  at  last  with  his  thank- 
offerings  for  victory.  Asterios  alone  did  not  now  return 
to  his  own  country  ;  instead,  he  settled  near  the  foot- 
unwashen Bears,"  about  the  river  Phasis ''  in  a  cold  land 
by  the  Massagetic  Gulf,*'  where  he  dwelt  under  the 
snowburdened  feet  of  his  father's  father,  Tauros  the 
Bull,^  translated  to  the  stars.  He  avoided  the  Cnossian 
city  and  the  sons  of  his  family,  hating  Pasiphae  and 
his  own  father  Minos,  and  preferring  Scythia  to  his 
own  country.  But  Bacchos,  followed  only  by  his 
Satyrs  and  the  Indianslaying  Bacchant  women,  after 
a  war  in  the  Caucasos  beside  the  Amazonian  River, 
visited  Arabia  the  second  time,  where  he  stayed  and 
taught  the  Arabian  people  who  knew  not  Bacchos  to 
uplift  the  mystic  fennel,  and  crowned  the  Nysian 
hills  with  the  vineclusters  of  his  fruitful  plant. 

^^  Leaving  the  long  stretch  of  Arabia  with  its  deep- 
shadowy  forests  he  measured  the  Assyrian  road  on 
foot,  and  had  a  mind  to  see  the  Tyrian  land,  Cadmos's 
country  ;  for  thither  he  turned  his  tracks,  and  with 
stuffs  in  thousands  before  his  eyes  he  admired  the 
manycoloured  patterns  of  Assyrian  art,  as  he  stared 
at  the  woven  work  of  the  Babylonian  Arachne  ^ ;  he 
examined  cloth  dyed  with  the  Tyrian  shell,  shooting 
out  sea-sparklings  of  purple :  on  that  shore  once  a  dog 
busy  by  the  sea,  gobbling  the  wonderful  lurking  fish 
with  joyous  jaws,  stained  his  white  jowl  with  the  blood 

'  The  Caspian  Sea,  called  a  gulf  because  it  was  supposed 
to  open  out  into  the  so-called  Northern  Ocean. 

^  The  pedigree  is  Zeus  and  Europe — Minos — Asterios. 

*  Arachne,  daughter  of  Idmon  of  Colophon,  a  great  dyer 
and  weaver ;  she  challenged  Athena,  and  was  changed  into  a 
spider.    See  Ovid,  Met.  vi.  1.  ff. 

175 


NONNOS 

XcAca  ^w[(a^  hi€p<ft  irvfH,  rth  tntrt  tMoAf^ 
<f>athp6v  oAixAauttii^  ipvBalitro  ^apof  iSin^irrwr.        SIO 

ov  Si€pw  fiirpoja€v  oXift  ^oHrrfjpi  BaXdouffSt 

dXXa  rvnov  Aa^c  roiov  ^OXvfintiOV,  olo¥  M^ttfaa 

dy;(iT€Ai79  AeiTTOiKJo  fu^  yActi)^  a<Ai|n|. 

KOi  oi  onitrtvovTi  yi€ar\v  yBwa  ovfiryor  a^|y  SU 

StfrAoof  cAAa^c  ddfifiof,  ^trci  Tii^or  fir  oAi  trciTOi 

€1?  x^^^^  fioiprid€iaa,  owatrrofA^yri  hi  ^aXiaag 

Tpix^ahlais  Aayoi^oon  /uov  (v»«oaaTo  fUrpnfr 

vr)xofi€vrj  5*  drii'oucro^  ofxoUoi  cvArro  Ko6pn, 

Kol  K€<ftaXriv  Kol  artpva  iccu  au^^tW  5ai«cc  Am^OO^*  no 

X€ipa9  i^nXwoaaa  fuatj  hiSvfuiovi  n6t^tf», 

yeiTOVt  X€VKaivovaa  BaXnaaauft  h^fios  d^p^» 

Koi  TToSa?  afufxTTtpov^  €ir€p€iaaro  ^irjfrip^  y^* 

Kai  TToXiv  €vvoaiyaios  cytuv  aore/x^c  htafup 

wp4>ios  uSaroeif  Trcpao/xcrou,  ofa  oiWinxtfi^  tl5 

TT^X^t   7ra^Ad{[o»^i  ir€pinXoKOV  cu^ycya  vvft^^fffs, 

PovKoXos  dyxu<€X€v6o^  6yxXi€€  ytiTQVi  Mi^ni 
avpi^itiv  napd  Biva,  Kai  ainoXo^  txBvPoXiji 
BiKTVOv  ai  ipvovTi,  Koi  dyTvnmoiai¥  iprrfUHf  S)0 

<TXi'^op.€vwv  vSdrwv  ixapdautro  fiwXo^  dpdrptj^ 
€4vaAiT7?  8'  odpi^ov  op.-qXv^^  tyyv^  ^X}^!^ 

7rOI,p.€V€9    .    .    .    vXorOflOiGlt  Kol  €pp€fifV  €l¥  €Vt 

<j>Xolafios  dAd?,  fivtcrffia  powv,  tlnOvpiOfia  ircn^Aair, 
7T€Z<Tfia,  <f>vr6v,  rrX6o9,  aXao^, 

vhcap,  v€€9,  dAicdf,  OC^^*      SJi 

*  This  story,  which  seems  to  hare  pMted  Dpom  oae  HiA  «f 
176 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  309-335 

of  the  shell,  and  reddened  his  lips  with  running  fire, 
which  once  alone  made  scarlet  the  sea-dyed  robes  of 
kings." 

311  He  was  delighted  to  see  that  city,  which  Earth- 
shaker  surrounded  with  a  Hquid  girdle  of  sea,  not 
wholly,  but  it  got  the  shape  which  the  moon  weaves  in 
the  sky  when  she  is  almost  full,  falling  short  of  full- 
ness by  one  point.  And  when  he  saw  the  mainland 
joined  to  the  brine,  he  felt  a  double  wonder,  since 
Tyre  lies  in  the  brine,  having  her  own  share  in  the 
land  but  joined  with  the  sea  which  has  joined  one 
girdle  with  the  three  sides  together.  Unshakable,  it 
is  like  a  swimming  girl,  who  gives  to  the  sea  head 
and  breast  and  neck,  stretching  her  arms  between 
under  the  two  waters,  and  her  body  whitened  with 
foam  from  the  sea  beside  her,  while  she  rests  both 
feet  on  mother  earth.  And  Earthshaker  holding  the 
city  in  a  firm  bond  floats  all  about  like  a  watery 
bridegroom,  as  if  embracing  the  neck  of  his  bride  in 
a  splashing  arm. 

327  Still  more  Bacchos  admired  the  city  of  Tyre  ; 
where  alone  the  herdsman's  way  was  near  the  fisher- 
man, and  he  kept  company  with  his  piping  along  the 
shore,  and  goatherd  with  fisher  again  when  he  drew 
his  net,  and  the  glebe  was  cleft  by  the  plow  while 
opposite  the  oars  were  cutting  the  waters.  Shepherds 
near  the  seaside  woods  gossiped  in  company  [with 
boatmen,  fisher  with]  woodmen,  and  in  one  place  was 
the  loud  noise  of  the  sea,  the  lowing  of  cattle,  the 
whispering  of  leaves,  rigging  and  trees,  naviga- 
tion and  forest,  water,  ships,  and  lugger,  plowtail, 

"  discoverers,"   eupcVai,  to  another  (see   M.  Kremmer,  Be 
catalogis  heurematum,  Leipzig  1890,  pp.  45,  94),  is  told  by  St. 
Gregory  Nazianzen,  Orat.  iv.  108,  Cassiodorus,  Variae  i.  2. 
VOL.  Ill  N  177 


NONNOS 

^-fjXa,  hovaf,  hp€iTdyrj,  atca^titt, 

Kol  rdh€  nanraiywv  voXvOofifida  fi^ffaro  ^iwifr' 

"firjuov€vri7r€ifH(nr6$€vihpaj(C¥;  tl  9ifU€  €ltnt9» 
rrjXiKov  ov  nom  koXXos  i<Mpasco¥'  ^fwf  yap 
h€vSp€a  avp<i€i  napa  tcviiora,  Nij^Oof  M  MO 

<l>S€'yyofUyrj^  Kara  ncvrov  'Afuahpvi^  ^Yt^  dMo4n, 
KOi  TvpiOi9  TrcAaycocn  fcal  dyxMoun^  dl^Oi^paif 
•nvtiwv  cV  Atfidvoio  fi€(nifiPpUf6t  afipis  ^^f^ 
daBfian  KapnoroKip  irpox^€^  rrfoo96o¥  aiBpHf^^ 
i/jvxcjv  dypovofiov  koI  vauTiXo¥  4h  vA^or  IXwo,     MS 
Koi  xBoviTjv  hp€nd»nfjv  fivOiiQ  ittX&ooafi  Tpttmhff 
<l>d€yY€Tai  vypofUhovn  OaXvoidf  iv&dht  Aiycu, 
Kcjifnjs  dppoxov  dpp.a  Ka0imr€vovrt  yaAijn|f , 
Wvv€iv  hpoyuov  laov  o/io{i}Aaiv  ^c  ht^pt0¥, 
ofiTTVia  fjuxoTL^oiHra  yutrdpaia  vCna  hpatcdnntim*        230 
CO  iroAi  7Taaifi€XoiH7a,  rvno^  ySovo^,  aiBipo$  mIkw^, 
avfufntdos  rplTrXtvpov  ry<c9  rtXoLpwva  BaXdaatff** 
"Cls  €ln<jjv  'JTapdp,€ip€  &4*  darto^  oppa  TtTomur* 
Kal  ol  oTrtTTcvom  XidoyXwxivt^  dyvioi 
pappapvyr}v  dv€if>aivov  dpoifiaUno  prrdXXov  IfO 

icat  TTpoyovov  hopov  cIBcv  ^Ayrfvopo^,  RpaM€ 
Kal  ddXapov  KdBpoio,  Koi  dpnapUvrfg  vor^ 
Kvpwirrjs  d<l>vXaKrov  ibvaaro  napdfvttava, 

pVTJGTLV   €XCJV   K€p6€VTOS    €OV    Ai09'    dpXCyWOVf   M 

irqyas  6dp^€€  paXXov,  wrji  x^oviov  5ca  KdXt 
vdparos  €Kxvp€vov  TraXivaYpfrov  €*V  piav 
X^vpaaiv  avToyovoiai  •noXvrpt^^  c/SAucr  v5oip* 
€l^€v  *APapPap€rj£  y6y^pov  poor,  cSpoucc  ^ffy^jjiP 
178 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  336-S63 

sheep,  reeds,  and  sickle,  boats,  lines,  sails,  and  corse- 
let. As  he  surveyed  all  this,  he  thus  expressed  his 
wonder  : 

33^  "  How's  this — how  do  I  see  an  island  on  the 
mainland  ?  If  I  may  say  so,  never  have  I  beheld 
such  beauty.  Lofty  trees  rustle  beside  the  waves,  the 
Nereid  speaks  on  the  deep  and  the  Hamadryad  hears 
hard  by.  A  delicate  breeze  of  the  south  breathes 
from  Lebanon  upon  Tyrian  seas  and  seaside  plowland, 
pouring  a  breath  of  wind  which  fosters  the  corn  and 
speeds  the  ships  at  once,  cools  the  husbandman  and 
draws  the  seaman  to  his  voyage.  Here  harvesthome 
Deo  brings  the  sickle  of  the  land  close  to  the  trident 
of  the  deep,  and  speaks  to  the  monarch  of  the  wet, 
who  drives  his  car  unwetted  upon  the  soundless  calm, 
while  she  asks  him  to  guide  her  rival  car  on  the  same 
course,  and  herself  whips  the  bounteous  backs  of  her 
aerial  dragons.  O  world-famous  city,  image  of  the 
earth,  picture  of  the  sky !  You  have  a  belt  of  sea 
grown  into  one  with  your  three  sides  !  " 

^3  So  he  spoke,  and  wandered  through  the  city 
casting  his  eyes  about.  He  gazed  at  the  streets  paved 
with  mosaic  of  stones  and  shining  metals ;  he  saw  the 
house  of  Agenor  his  ancestor,  he  saw  the  courtyards 
and  the  women's  apartments  of  Cadmos ;  he  entered 
the  ill-guarded  maiden  chamber  of  Europe,  the  bride 
stolen  long  ago,  and  thought  of  his  own  horned  Zeus. 
Still  more  he  wondered  at  those  primeval  fountains, 
where  a  stream  comes  pouring  out  through  the  bosom 
of  the  earth,  and  after  one  hour  plenty  of  water 
bubbles  up  again  with  flood  self-produced.  He 
saw  the  creative  stream  of  Abarbaree,"  he  saw  the 

"  Not  the  same  as  in  xv.  378.  For  the  stories  of  these 
otherwise  unknown  fountains,  see  below,  538  if. 

179 


NONNOS 

KaXXipoTjv  €p6€aaav  hratwfioy,  cOt  $cal  oMfi 
dppov  €p€vyofi€vnrj^  \poo€prjs  w/i^ijiw  vUtp.  MS 

'AAA*  ore  navra  v6tjo€v  iift  ^iXompwdi  #lffi^« 
€19  Sofiov  *A<rrpox^Twvo^  itcutiuiat, 

«rcu  vp6§ia9  iarpm¥ 
roLov  e-iTos  Poocjv  ^KoXdaanro  fuhmii  ^tt^* 
"  *A(rrpoxlrwv  'HpcufAcy, 

di^  fwp6f,  fyx"^  if6oiumt 

'HcAte,   PpOT^OlO  pioV   ^oXiXOGKtM   «Ot(fA^,  S70 

Irmcvwv  eXiKr^hov  oXov  noXov  alBant  mOK^^ 
via  xpovov  XvKofiayra  hvothtKo^ifvov  JXlgmm, 
kvkXov  ayci;  ficrd  kvkXov  o^*  u/acW/mmo  M  8(^pwP 

fiala  CT0^9  coSrix>y  a/xT^ropo^  tu(6va  Mijn|r  I7f 

wBlv€19  rpUXiKTOVf  or€  hpoaotoaa  2UAi}ri} 
tr^?  Ao;(t7^9  ojcrtvo^  afitXytrai  ayrirvwo¥  wOp, 
ravpeirjv  iniKvprov  dtyXXi^ovaa  tc€palffir 
Tra/i<^a€9  alBtpo^  ofifia,  ^'pcc9  Tcrp(£{vyi  Sfi^i^ 
X^tfia  fi€Td  ij>0iv6noipov ,  ayci?  ^/pof  ctop  A^MJfkt^.  MO 
vuf  /i€v  dKomoTTjpi  8iwKOfi4V7j  oio  wvptH^ 
XaJcToi  daTTJpiicToy,  ore  (v/ov  dfyv^cm  SXkwip 
dKpo<l>avTjs  iiT7T€io^  IfLoaaeTtu  opBiof  qAx^» 
acio  8c  Aa/i7ro/xevo(o  ^cuuacpov  ovtcirx  Xi^MMm/f 
TTOiKiXos  €V<l>a€€aai  xapdaatrai  darpaai  Xn^iMHf^      3M 
X^vfiam  8*  dm-oAticou)  AcAou/x^wk  'QircoKHO 
aeLodfievos  yovoeaaav  ddaXnio^  ucfidha  xdirfft 
ofiPpov  dy€is  <l>€p€Kapm}v,  en*  cucoScn  5^  Foiil 
'qepiT)^  rjwov  € p€vy €ai  dpSpLOv  €^par^, 
Koi  araxvoiv  (vSlvas  dvoASoiPci;  a^o  ftcoic^  W> 

180 


PIONYSIACA,  XL.  364-390 

lovely  fountain  named  after  Callirhoe,  he  saw  the 
bridal  water  of  Drosera  herself  spouting  daintily 
out. 

3®^  But  when  he  had  noted  all  this  and  gratified 
his  curiosity,  he  went  revelling  to  the  temple  of  the 
Starclad  <*  and  there  called  loudly  upon  the  leader  of 
the  stars  in  mystic  words  : 

^^®  **  Starclad  Heracles,  lord  of  fire,  prince  of  the 
universe  !  O  Helios,  longshadowed  shepherd  of 
human  life,  coursing  round  the  whole  sky  with  shining 
disk  and  wheeling  the  twelvemonth  lichtgang  the  son 
of  Time  !  Circle  after  circle  thou  drivest,  and  from 
thy  car  is  shaped  the  running  lifespace  for  youth  and 
age  !  Nurse  of  wise  birth,  thou  bringest  forth  the 
threefold  image  of  the  motherless  Moon,*  while  dewy 
Selene  milks  her  imitative  light  from  thy  fruitful 
beam,  while  she  fills  in  her  curving  bull's-horn.  All- 
shining  Eye  of  the  heavens,  thou  bringest  in  thy 
four-horse  chariot  winter  following  autumn,  and 
changest  spring  to  summer.  Night  pursued  by  thy 
shooting  torch  moves  and  gives  place,  when  the  first 
morning  glimpse  comes  of  thy  straightnecked  steeds 
drawing  the  silver  yoke  under  thy  lashes  ;  when  thy 
Hght  shines,  the  varied  heavenly  meadow  no  longer 
shines  brighter  dotted  with  patterns  of  bright  stars. 
From  thy  bath  in  the  waters  of  the  eastern  Ocean 
thou  shakest  off  the  creative  moisture  from  thy  cool 
hair,  bringing  the  fruitful  rain,  and  discharging  the 
early  wet  of  the  heavenly  dew  upon  the  prolific  earth. 
With  thy  disk  thou  givest  increase  to  the  growth  of 

"  Melkart.  He  had  long  been  identified  with  Heracles 
and,  later,  with  the  Sun. 

**  Helios  is  the  father,  according  to  Nonnos  there  is  no 
mother. 

181 


NOXNOS 
palvwv  (cooroKoio  5c*  avAojcof  o/awmot  ^jmjr. 

*  Arris  c^u?  NciAoiQS, 

'Apai/t  KpAvot,  *Kao^ptot  2M4t' 
KoX  f  uAa  KrjoKvra  ^putv  yau»fmi¥V)f(L  mpo^ 

901  vi(,  T€pfia  /3u>io  ^oui¥  avroawojpor  dfx^» 

TUfTCTOi  Mjonmoio  x/>o^*<'v  trttAu>t{yptrog  turoir, 

Auaas  5*  eV  Trvpc  y^pa;  a^ifi^rni  ix  wvp^  jjfcp' 

€iT€  £af>aTri9  c^V9>  Aiyvirriov  cuW^cAof  Z^« 

ci  Kpd»x>s,  ci  Oac^oiv  TToAuciui'v/iof ,  cere  o^  IU^pi|f»  ^^^ 

*HcAio;  Bo/SvAoiKx.  cv  'EAAa&i  AcA^  'Aw^JUmt 

€1  Fa/xos,  ov  oKupounv  'EpoK  i<mtip€¥  6¥tipO&t 

fiifiTjXrj^  TcAccuv  aTTaT^Aiov  i^itpov  tMjt, 

€K  Alos  mn'oioiTo?  ore  yAoi^fiit  yja^foifnff 

avroydyiO}  ottooov  vypov  €7n(voavrof  apotffnft  ^^ 

ovpaviais  Xipdd€aGiv  c/xatco^i^crav  ^plvpiu, 

€tT€  cru   riairjcov  oStn'^i^ros,  cc  irMcf  A^^4lP 

TTOiKtAoj,  ^Aorpoxirojv  Sc  ^rt{((u — ivw^^UH  y^ 

ovpavov  d<rr€p6€yT€g  inavyd^ovai  xiTW¥€S     ' 

ouaatv  cv/xevccaaif  c/xiji'  cunra^co  ^oin^.  €Hp 

Tow)!'  CTToy  Aiowaos  ayrjpvytv.     ifawumjt  $i 
€v6€ov  €tbos  €x<i>v  ^co^cy/ioitK  €vho$i  y^ffoQ 
^AorpoxiTwv  rjarpaili€'  TTvpiyXriyov  &^  npoowmom 
fiapfiapvyqv  pohoeaaav  airrfKoirnlov  oircuvoA* 
#fat  deos  atyA^ct?  naXdprjv  cupcfc  AMi«q»«  *•• 

TToiKiXov  cf/za  <f>€pa}v,  rvnov  ai0€poi, 

€Uc6¥a    K6ofMm00 

OTiXpoiv  $av6d  y€V€ia  Kai  dartpo^aoixv  vaijrip' 
#cai  /Ltiv  €v<f>paivwv  4^ir)  /xctAx^c  rpatrcffj. 
avrdp  6  6vp,6v  €r€pn€v  d6aiTp€VTo»  impa  &carv«y 
t/favwv  dfiPpoairjs  koI  v^Krapos'  ov  vi^uais  M«        ^^ 
182 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  391-420 

harvest,  irrigating  the  bounteous  corn  in  the  life- 
nourishing  furrows. 

392  '*  Belos  on  the  Euphrates,  called  Ammon  in 
Libya,  thou  art  Apis  by  the  Nile,  Arabian  Cronos, 
Assyrian  Zeus  !  On  thy  fragrant  altar,  that  thou- 
sand-year-old wise  bird  the  phoenix  lays  sweetsmell- 
ing  woods  with  his  curved  claw,  bringing  the  end  of 
one  life  and  the  beginning  of  another  ;  for  there  he  is 
born  again,  self-begotten,  the  image  of  equal  time 
renewed — he  sheds  old  age  in  the  fire,  and  from  the 
fire  takes  in  exchange  youthful  bloom.  Be  thou 
called  Sarapis,  the  cloudless  Zeus  of  Egypt  ;  be  thou 
Cronos,  or  Fhaethon  of  many  names,  or  Mithras  the 
Sun  of  Babylon,  in  Hellas  Delphic  Apollo ;  be  thou 
Gamos,"  whom  Love  begat  in  shadowy  dreams, 
fulfilling  the  deceptive  desire  of  a  mock  union,  when 
from  sleeping  Zeus,  after  he  had  sprinkled  the  damp 
seed  over  the  earth  with  the  self-wedding  point  of 
the  sword,  the  heights  brought  forth  by  reason  of 
the  heavenly  drops  ;  be  thou  painquelling  Paieon, 
or  patterned  Heaven ;  be  thou  called  the  Starclad, 
since  by  night  starry  mantles  illuminate  the  sky — 
O  hear  my  voice  graciously  with  friendly  ears  !  " 

*ii  Such  was  the  hymn  of  Dionysos.  Suddenly  in 
form  divine  the  Starclad  flashed  upon  him  in  that 
dedicated  temple.  The  fiery  eyes  of  his  countenance 
shot  forth  a  rosy  light,  and  the  shining  god,  clad  in 
a  patterned  robe  like  the  sky,  and  image  of  the  uni- 
verse, with  yellow  cheek  sparkling  and  a  starry  beard, 
held  out  a  hand  to  Lyaios,  and  entertained  him  with 
good  cheer  at  a  friendly  table.  He  enjoyed  a  feast 
without  meatcarving,  and  touched  nectar  and  am- 
brosia :  why  not  indeed,  if  he  did  drink  sweet  nectar, 

■  Marriage. 

183 


N0NN08 

ci  yXvKV  v4Krap  tmvt  ficra  yAoyoj  ififipan^  *Hfijr 
€ip€ro  8*  * Aarpo\irwva  ^iutv  ^iXotnnVwtL  ^tutr^fr 

"  * KarpoxLrwv  /i«  5t5aa>f€, 

Tty  ^€09  aarv  voXkaat,  rU  r/pa^  cAfWrhl  X^i 
tU  OKO'niXovi  oydctpc  koX  ippV^utot  BtXtao^;         4Si 
ris  KaiJLthaibaXa,ravrxk;  v6$€¥  Xdxo¥  o&^Ofia  m^y^; 
TtV  x^o*'*  vfjaov  Cfu(cv  o/io{vya  MT^P^  ^B^^^fff ;  " 

^  5/  Of  ircirra  SiM6». 
€v6dh€  <l>afT€9  €vaiov,  oyMmopoq  ovr  wort  norfiom  4Ji 
devaov  Koayuoio  avn^Aixa;  cS/xurcv  Alui¥, 
ayvov  dyv^i<f>€vrou>  yivo^  "jfio^*  ^  ^^^  fiu^^i|» 
avrofiaTrjv  <i>8ii^v  dv^poro;  dtmopo^  !Xuf' 
ot  TToAtv  ioorvniov  hair^Botv  clutoxOovi  r^XHi 
7r€Tpaioi.s  aTlvatcTOv  iirvpytoativTo  BtyJBXoit'  4M 

#fat  TTOTC  irqyalrjoi  irap*  €vvSpoiai  xofMVPoiir 

rcpi/nvoov  Arjdaiov  dfi€py6fi€voi  trrtpov  ^vvov 
€v8ov  ofAov,  KpabiT)  Sc  ^cAoTTroAiv  dUrrpov  cUfoiv 
FT/ycvccuv  oraToi'  rx»x>5  €nr)<jjfn)<Ta  tcapff^,  410 

Kot  Pporiov  aKio€iS€g  c^cov  u'5aAfta  vpoaurtnm 
d€G<f>aTOV  oyLffrqcvTos  dvripvyov  dv6€p€tamof 
*  VTTvov  dTTOUK€hdaavT€S  d€py€a,  rroiScf  dptMip/tff, 
r€v^aT€  fiot  ^€vov  dppa  fiarfj^  dXoi'  6(vT6ftoiis  W 
Ko^ari  fioi  TrcAcVcaai  pd^iv  9r<rucu5co(  vXrff  44^ 

r€v^aT€  p.01  acxfwv  €pryov'  \mo  ara/xtWoat  &€  mnrvocf 
tic/>ta  yop/fHx}aavr€s  inaaavrtpoi  rivl  Koofup 

•  Herades,  here  identified  wHfa    HcikM,  racked  Hcim^ 
184 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  421-447 

after  the  immortal  milk  of  Hera  ?  ^  Then  he  spoke 
to  the  Starclad  in  words  full  of  curiosity  : 

423  "  Inform  me,  Astrochiton,  what  god  built  this 
city  in  the  form  of  a  continent  and  the  image  of  an 
island  ?  What  heavenly  hand  designed  it  ?  Who 
lifted  these  rocks  and  rooted  them  in  the  sea  ?  Who 
made  all  these  works  of  art  ?  Whence  came  the 
name  of  the  fountains  ?  Who  mingled  island  with 
mainland  and  bound  them  together  with  mother 
sea  ?  " 

*28  He  spoke,  and  Heracles  satisfied  him  with 
friendly  words  : 

*29  "  Hear  the  story,  Bacchos,  I  will  tell  you  all. 
People  dwelt  here  once  whom  Time,  bred  along  with 
them,  saw  the  only  agemates  of  the  eternal  universe, 
holy  offspring  of  the  virgin  earth,  whose  bodies  came 
forth  of  themselves  from  the  unplowed  unsown  mud. 
These  by  indigenous  art  built  upon  foundations  of 
rock  a  city  unshakable  on  ground  also  of  rock.  Once 
on  their  watery  beds  among  the  fountains,  while  the 
fiery  sun  was  beating  the  earth  with  steam,  they 
were  resting  together  and  plucking  at  the  Lethean 
wing  of  mind -rejoicing  sleep.  Now  I  cherished 
a  passion  of  love  for  that  city  ;  so  I  took  the 
shadowed  form  of  a  human  face,  and  stayed  my  step 
overhanging  the  head  of  these  earthborn  folk,  and 
spoke  to  them  my  oracle  in  words  of  inspiration  : 

*^  "  *  Shake  off  idle  sleep,  sons  of  the  soil !  Make 
me  a  new  kind  of  vehicle  to  travel  on  the  brine. 
Clear  me  this  ridge  of  pinewoods  with  your  sharp 
axes  and  make  me  a  clever  work.  Set  a  long  row  of 
thickset  standing  ribs  and  rivet  planks  to  them,  then 

breast  (without  her  knowledge,  for  the  story  varies)  and 
so  became  her  fosterson. 

185 


NONN08 

avfi^prqv  arivoKTov  dpTjpori  ^ijoarv  htafti^, 
hi(j>pov  aAo9,  <r)(€hirjv  npumir\oo¥,  ^  btA 
vfUas  dxAiJcic-  teal  dyfcvXoy  tutpor  a«*  impim 
npioTonay^S  Sopv  fiaxpov  oXov  <m}pcy|ia 
Itfpia  8c  arayMtooiv  dptjpora  &^aorc  mittXqf, 
Tolxov  hovpartov  nvKH'ov  Tvm¥'  u^rfWc  hk 
a^yyopuevov  S€apoiai  pAao¥  (vXo¥  o^ior 
Koi  Xiy€ov  nXarv  ^dpo^  t^atftart  hovpan 
GvpnXiKlas  ht  KoXtoa^  afu>i/3a8iV«  ut¥  6m6 
itcroBov  ri€pUp  tcoXirwaart  ^dpof  a^frjj 
€yKVov  €(  avipLOV  yrjoaaoov  opriiraYfj  hi 
<f>pd(aT€  AeTrroAcoiai  ocoi^pora  Soupara  ydf«i^otf , 
TWKva  TrepurrpuHJoyTts  6po^vy4<ov  ini  roix/nt^ 
pineaw  otavtvoi^,  pij  <f>topioy  otSpM  )^€ci) 
€vh6pvxov  yXoj^vpoio  k€x^v6ti  bovparof  cXiftp, 
Koi  ax«8ii79  oti^Ka  Kvp€pinjTrjpa  Tropiitff 
vypfjs  arpanirolo  noXvarpo^v  4*^oX^ 

hovparfw  K€V€wvi  xapd^art  vdrra  ^aXdotrrff, 
€ta6K€  x<J^po^  Ikoig6€  p€popp(vov,  cumdBi  hun^l 
d(rrad€€S  TrXcjovaiv  aXrjpovt^  civ  oAi  ntrpoA, 
dg  Ouai;  ^ApPpoaias  CTrc^fuacv,  oT^  m  BdXXu 
TJXiKos  avToppi^ov  opo^vyov  cpixx  cAaii^, 
7r€Tprjs  vypoTTopoio  p€a6p^>aXov'  dxpordrois  M 
aUrov  ddprj(TrfT€  'rTap€hpjjoaoyra  Kopvpfioif 
Koi  ^ioAt^v  €vrvKTov  dno  ^iXoytpoio  hk  hh^pcn 
BappaXiovs  amvOijpas  cpcvycTcu  avroparQ^  wtJjp, 
KoX  aiXas  d(l>X€y€os  7r€pifi6aK€Tai  €pvo^  iXairf^* 

Kol   <l>Xrr6v   lHpl7T€Tr)XoV   cAif   o^y    dpL^X^p€V€l, 

dp4>dT€pov  pX€<l>dpouTi  KOi  ovaai  Sdpfio^  ddfi 
186 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  448-477 

join  them  firmly  together  with  a  wellfitting  bond — 
the  chariot  of  the  sea,  the  first  craft  that  ever  sailed, 
which  can  heave  you  over  the  deep  !  But  first  let  it 
have  a  long  curved  beam  running  from  end  to  end 
to  support  the  whole,  and  fasten  the  planks  to  the 
ribs  fitted  about  it  like  a  close  wall  of  wood.  Let 
there  be  a  tall  spar  upright  in  the  middle  held  fast 
with  stays.  Fasten  a  wide  linen  cloth  to  the  middle 
of  the  pole  with  twisted  ropes  on  each  side.  Keep 
the  sail  extended  by  these  ropes,  and  let  it  belly 
out  to  the  wind  of  heaven,  pregnant  by  the  breeze 
which  carries  the  ship  along.  Where  the  newfitted 
timbers  gape,  plug  them  with  thin  pegs.  Cover  the 
sides  with  hurdles  of  wickerwork  to  keep  them 
together,  lest  the  water  leak  through  unnoticed  by 
a  hole  in  the  hollow  vessel.  Have  a  tiller  as  guide 
for  your  craft,  to  steer  a  course  and  drive  you  on 
the  watery  path  with  many  a  turn — twist  it  about 
everywhere  as  your  mind  draws  you,  and  cleave  the 
back  of  the  sea  in  your  wooden  hull,  until  you  come 
to  the  fated  place,  where  driven  wandering  over 
the  brine  are  two  floating  rocks,  which  Nature  has 
named  the  Ambrosial  Rocks." 

469  "  '  Qjj  Qjje  Qf  them  grows  a  spire  of  olive,  their 
agemate,  selfrooted  and  joined  to  the  rock,  in  the  very 
midst  of  the  waterfaring  stone.  On  the  top  of  the 
foliage  you  will  see  an  eagle  perched,  and  a  well-made 
bowl.  From  the  flaming  tree  fire  selfmade  spits  out 
wonderful  sparks,  and  the  glow  devours  the  olive  tree 
all  round  but  consumes  it  not.  A  snake  writhes  round 
the  tree  with  its  highlifted  leaves,  increasing  the 
wonder  both  for  eyes  and  for  ears.     For  the  serpent 

"  Where,  if  anywhere,  Nonnos  found  this  extraordinary 
tale  of  the  founding  of  Tyre  is  unknown. 

187 


NONNOS 

ov  yap  otpaitrorrfTov  ^5  otcror  i4'o^^  fpwoir 
Xo^os  dn€iXriTrjpi  hpdKto¥  ntfHfidXXtrm  Mm^, 
ovSe  huiTrrvcav  dayarq^pov  t6¥  <^5A>Tm» 
opviv  €<uy  y€vvfaai  KartoBUi,  oOU  Jcal  H^r^ 
aicTOS*  ipTnjarijpa  noXv<nr€iprpv¥  ^dtSmg 
aprrdias  oyvxfom  furdpotoi  ifipa  r^^Uftt, 
ovSc  fiiv  6(vo8oyTi  KaraypojifMU  /rvctifi- 
ovSe  rawnpffivoio  <^vtov  nt^pnwjpoii  ^ffina 
TWpaos  dhy)\rjrov  irtpi^oatctnu  <proc  i^aim» 
ovht  hpaKovTiiutv  ^oXShjjv  antiprifui  uo^MCMt 
Gvwofiov  dyxiKiXtDBov,  6fAonXtt(€uM^  oi  fraU  ai 
ov  7rr€pvywv  opvidoi  i^irrrrai  dXX&yLt¥0¥  wBm^ 
oAAa  <f>VTov  Kara  fuaaa  ^iXotf  oiXa/f  atfrn  laXXm* 
ovSt  kvXl^  arivatcro^  itrrppo^  wffoBi  niwm 
aiiopAvoiv  dv€fioujiv  oXtoBtfoaaa  Kopvfifitg¥. 
Kai  ao<f>6v  dyp€vaairr€i  6fi6)^vov  6pvi¥  iXaifff 
aierov  v^inirr^v  Up€uaar€  Kvavoxairjj, 
Xvdpov  €TTi(m€vSovT€S  oAiTrAawcaot  tcoXurmif 
Kal  Au  #ca4  pxiKdpeaat'  koX  dararoi  ovicirt  ^rirpti 
TrAcifcTCu  uypo<f>6pTjTO^,  dxaoyrocf  &€  ^€/iV9Aotf 
avTOfJidrq  Jcua^etaa  crwdTrrtToi  d^iryt  wirpfQ. 
Trq^are  8*  dp.<f>oT€pai^  €'nuc€ipL€vt>v  darv  iroiiiiinnff 
dpi<j>or€pnf)s  €KdT€p6€v  inl  Kpffnihi  ^aXiaofK*' 
Toiov  €7Tos  fiavTwov  dyrjpvyoy  €yp6fJL€VOi  M 
Fr/ycvcVy  ScSoi^rro,  #cai  ovaaiv  ai€v  Itcdarom 
SdaKcXos  d7rXav€wv  CTrc/Sdfi/Scc  fivOx^  dmipom, 
roloi  3*  €yui  T€pa^  dXXo  fitrd  7rr€p6€rmg  dmlpfmf 
dxvu/xcVoi?  d\€<f>rjva,  <f>iX6KTiTov  ^^oy  <U(ctfr 
€aa6p.€vos  ttoXlovxo^'  vncpKwIfa^  &^  &aXdaofit 
dvTLTimov  filfirffia  <f>€pu}v  lao^vyi  fJiop^ 
€49  ttXoov  avToSiSaKTov  ci'T^vcTo  vaurCXos  Ixl^^ 
Tov  TOT€  7ra7TraivovT€s  cowcora  •oyl  daA(unn|f 
188 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  478-509 

does  not  creep  silently  to  the  eagle  flying  on  high,  and 
throw  itself  at  him  from  one  side  with  a  threatening 
sweep  to  envelop  him,  nor  spits  deadly  poison  from 
his  teeth  and  swallows  the  bird  in  his  jaws  ;  the  eagle 
himself  does  not  seize  in  his  talons  that  crawler  with 
many  curling  coils  and  carry  him  off  high  through  the 
air,  nor  will  he  wound  him  with  sharptoothed  beak ; 
the  flame  does  not  spread  over  the  branches  of  the 
tall  trunk  and  devour  the  olive  tree,  which  cannot 
be  destroyed,  nor  withers  the  scales  of  the  twining 
snake,  so  close  a  neighbour,  nor  does  the  leaping 
flame  catch  even  the  bird's  interlaced  feathers.  No — 
the  fire  keeps  to  the  middle  of  the  tree  and  sends  out 
a  friendly  glow :  the  bowl  remains  aloft,  immovable 
though  the  clusters  are  shaken  in  the  wind,  and  does 
not  slip  and  fall. 

493  "  '  You  must  catch  this  wise  bird,  the  high- 
flying eagle  agemate  of  the  olive,  and  sacrifice 
him  to  Seabluehair.  Pour  out  his  blood  on  the 
seawandering  cliffs  to  Zeus  and  the  Blessed.  Then 
the  rock  wanders  no  longer  driven  over  the  waters  ; 
but  it  is  fixed  upon  immovable  foundations  and 
unites  itself  bound  to  the  free  rock.  Found  upon 
both  rocks  a  builded  city,  with  quays  on  two  seas, 
on  both  sides.' 

^01  "  Such  was  my  prophetic  message.  The 
Earthborn  awaking  were  stirred,  and  the  divine 
message  of  the  unerring  dreams  still  rang  in  the 
ears  of  each.  I  showed  yet  another  marvel  after  the 
winged  dreams  to  these  troubled  ones,  indulging  my 
mood  of  founding  cities,  myself  destined  to  be  City- 
holder  :  out  of  the  sea  popped  a  nautilus  fish,  perfect 
image  of  what  I  meant  and  shaped  like  a  ship,  sailing 
on  its  voyage  selftaught.     Thus  observing  this  crea- 

189 


NONN08 

Kal  ttAoov  €vnoirfrov  drtp  KO^droto  §taB6mg,         •'• 
Koi  ax^hirjv  irrj^am'f^  oftouov  Ix^^  m^rev 
vavTiXlrj^  rvTTov  laov  ^fufirjaaarro  ^aXdaoi^, 
Kol  ttAoo?  ^v  nuTvpoty  5<  XiBiMfv  uiocAirli  4^^^ 
vavTiXiriv  la6fi€rf>ov  trturrwamrro  BaXiaofi, 
KoX  y€pdvcjv  ariyoKTOv  ifu^rfowrro  mop^:tff^  ^M 

at  arofidrcjv  €vroa6tv  ooaxnfT^fta  m^XMmt 
Xaav  cAo^ptfouat  nara^ia,  ^ij  irort  tnlfmf 
iTTrafUvcjv  7rr€pa  kov<^  napanXayftitv  ^bfnfft 

CU70IC6    X^^P^^   €K€lV0V   €a(hpaJKO¥,   ^)f»   tfvAAcUf 

€1?  ttXoov  avTOKtXfvOov  ivavTtXXorro  ieoX&99A,         •• 

Kal  GxcSirjv  coTT^aov  aXurr€^di^  wapa  i^^om, 

Kol  aniXdbwv  intpcuvov,  oirrj  ^vror  ijcr  *AA{n}f* 

Toiai  Sc  fiaiofjL€voiaiv  €<f>4<mov  6pv%»  iXahfg 

a(€T09  r)€p6^iro^  €Kovaiov  ctV  ^^po¥  iarti* 

rriy€V€€g  b€  XaP6vT€^  €vrrr€pov  Mtc¥  &Yfnfff  Mi 

a^  avaaiipdt,ovr€S  omiadcnox-oio  irapi)POV 

yvpvov  €<f>aTrXu}aavr€^  iXtvStpov  atStptiopa, 

aUrov  avTOKcXevOov  €bairp€VoayTO  fiaxnif^ 

X-qvl  Kol  vypoyi€hovTi'  Scu^ofi^vou  hi  <n5i{p9» 

€iJU(f>povo£  olojvolo  V€o<Ttf>ay€wv  ano  Xaufiaiv  OO 

OeaKcXov  €pp€€v  atfia,  daXaaaorropov^  &€  KoXurvos 

Boifiovlais  XLpa^€GGiv  €7r€ppHuxr€  daXdaoji 

dyxi  Tvpov  Trapd  novrov  in*  dppayitaoi  hk  wirpOMit 

rriY€V€€s  padvKoXnov  iBwfi-qaayro  nBrprrj^, 

aol  jJLev,  dva$  Aiowac,  Tr^Sorpc^y  a^^  Viydirrwif  tM 

€W€7TOv  avToX6x€VTov  *OXvp.niov,  o^poi  hoflffs 

vfji€T€po}v  TTpoyoviuv  TvpiTjv  avToxBova  ^vrAi^* 

dfjuf>l  Se  irqyduiv  fitj&qoofuw  apx^Y^iVOi  yap 

irapdevkKoX  ndpos  -Pjoav  ix^^povt^,  wv  M  pUrp^ 

190 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  510-539 

ture  so  like  a  ship  of  the  sea,  they  learnt  without 
trouble  how  to  make  a  voyage,  they  built  a  craft  like 
to  a  fish  of  the  deep  and  imitated  its  navigation  of  the 
sea.  Then  came  a  voyage  :  with  four  stones  of  an 
equal  weight  they  trusted  their  balanced  navigation 
to  the  sea,  imitating  the  steady  flight  of  the  crane  ; 
for  she  carries  a  ballast-stone  in  her  mouth  to  help  her 
course,  lest  the  wind  should  beat  her  light  wings  aside 
as  she  flies."  They  went  on  until  they  saw  that  place, 
where  the  rocks  were  driven  by  the  gales  to  navigate 
by  themselves. 

521  "  There  they  stayed  their  craft  beside  the  sea- 
girt isle,  and  climbed  the  cliffs  where  the  tree  of 
Athena  stood.  When  they  tried  to  catch  the  eagle 
which  was  at  home  on  the  olive  tree,  he  flew  down 
willingly  and  awaited  his  fate.  The  Earthborn  took 
their  winged  prey  inspired,  and  drawing  the  head 
backwards  they  stretched  out  the  neck  free  and  bare, 
they  sacrificed  with  the  knife  that  selfsurrendered 
eagle  to  Zeus  and  the  Lord  of  the  waters.  As  the 
sage  bird  was  sacrificed,  the  blood  of  prophecy  gushed 
from  the  throat  newly  cut,  and  with  those  divine  drops 
rooted  the  seafaring  rocks  at  the  bottom  near  to  Tyre  * 
on  the  sea  ;  and  upon  those  unassailable  rocks  the 
Earthborn  built  up  their  deepbreasted  nurse. 

535  "  There,  Lord  Dionysos,  I  have  told  you  of  the 
soilbred  race  of  the  Earthborn,  self  born,  Olympian, 
that  you  might  know  how  the  Tyrian  breed  of  your 
ancestors  sprang  out  of  the  earth.  Now  I  will  speak 
of  the  fountains.  In  the  olden  days  they  were  chaste 
maidens  primeval,  but  hot  Eros  was  angered  against 

"  For  some  references  to  this  story  about  cranes,  see  Sir 
D'A.  W.  Thompson,  Glossary  of  Greek  Birds^,  p.  72. 
**  i.e.  Old  Tyre,  the  mainland  part  of  the  city. 

191 


NONN08 

'  Nrytj  *ApapPap€rj  ^iXondp$fV€ ,  Wfo  tcoi  oM^ 
rovTo  /ScAoy,  to  wcp  coxcv  SXfj  ^wnf  hSA 
naaraSa  KaXXiporj^,  J^poatpijf  h*  ^yi^MUor 
oAA'  €p^€is'  "fud^mjj  Si</>oy  y4vo^.  ix  M  foAam ^  MI 
avTOTcAiyy  yci^^iji',  ifol  f/i^  rpo^dt  iwXtro  wi|yij." 
Ni7ia;  ^i'  KAu/xcvi)  Koi  anocnropof  ^QtetwnSo' 
oAAd  ydfjLoi^  vnottfty,  iWfi^vBfi  M  mii  d^nf* 
ws  t5c  Aar/Hv  'E/xurof  apctoMa  4ruaivj|u/iw 
olarpw  \{vnpthUp  StSomfifUvov  apx^yo¥09  M  MO 

*nK€ai'os>  iTorafioUn  kcu  vSaat  naai  ircActtw 
T77dtx>f  or$€v  cporra  iccu  ci)u&pov(  Vfi4vaiovt» 
T€rXadi  KoX  av  ^p€w  laa  Tfi$vi.    ToooarMyt  M 
cf  oAo;  oJ/xa  4>^povGa  uroi  ovir  oAiyiK  d«6  wtfyfj/i 
i/x€ip€(  FaAarcia  fi€XiiofjUvov  MoAv^ijfUW,  Ml 

TrrjKrtSt,  d€Xyofi€vr)  furavdarioi  cty  X^^""^  ^afaii 
#cat  TTT^ot  3e5aaaif  c/xoi'  PtXo^-  ov  at  htlU(m 
ifi€pov  vSarocvra-  nodopXrjrtHO  &<  '"T/^ 
€kXv€S  vypov  epwra  '^vprjKoalrj^  *ApfBoAnif*  •• 

'AA^ccoy  ScSaT^Ka;,  09  uc/xoAcoi  muM  vtMFT^ 
uS/n^Aai;  TToAa/xou;  Trc/MjSaAAcroi  i7^a5a  NJ|ify>. 
^7179  oTfta  <l>€povaa  ri  Ttprrtai  lo')(taim; 
"Aprc/xts"  ou  pXdanjGcv  a^    wSaro?,  €^9    A^poSiTiy.  S64 

€VV€1T€    KoAAtpOT^*    SpOGCpfj    fl-fj    KpVTTTt    KQA    aVT^,        9$$ 

KvTTpi^L  fidXXov  o<^AA€9  dyctv  X^^t  ^"^  ****  oinj  MS 
ay;(ei'a  Kd/jult€v  "Epcj-rt,  tIT 

»fat  €1  rpo^os  iorw  'EpcvTMr. 
8€;i^vu<TO  K€vrpa  noBoio,  kox  vypovofiov  at  iraJWoow 
€tff  yevc^i^,  €s  €pwTa  Kaaiyvifnjv  *A^po5in/(/ 
Tou)i/  CTTOff  KarcAcfci'-  oTTtadordixMO  o<  rdfov  §70 

19s 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  540-570 

their  maiden  girdles,  and  drawing  a  shaft  of  love  he 
spoke  thus  to  the  marriage -hating  nymphs  :  '  Naiad 
Abarbarie,  so  fond  of  your  maidenhood,  you  too  re- 
ceive this  shaft,  which  ajl  nature  has  felt.  Here  I  will 
build  Callirhoe's  bridechamber,  here  I  will  sing 
Drosera's  wedding  hymn — But  you  will  say,  Mine  is  a 
watery  race,  I  came  selfborn  from  the  streams,  and 
my  nurse  was  a  fountain. — Yes,  Clymene  was  a  Naiad, 
and  the  offspring  of  Oceanos  ;  but  she  yielded  to  wed- 
lock, she  also  was  a  bride,  when  she  saw  Seabluehair 
the  mighty  a  lackey  of  Eros,  and  shaken  with  the 
passion  of  Cypris.  Primeval  Oceanos,  who  commands 
all  rivers  and  waters,  knows  love  for  Tethys  and  a 
watery  wedding.  Make  the  best  of  it,  and  endure  as 
Tethys  did.  Another  sprung  from  the  sea  so  great 
and  not  from  a  little  fountain,  Galateia,  has  desire  for 
melodious  Polyphemos  °  ;  the  deepsea  maiden  has  a 
husband  from  the  land,  she  migrates  from  sea  to  land, 
enchanted  by  the  lute.  Fountains  also  have  known 
my  shafts.  I  need  not  teach  you  of  love  in  the 
waters  ;  you  have  heard  of  the  watery  passion  of 
Syracusan  Arethusa,  that  lovestricken  fountain  ;  you 
have  heard  of  Alpheios,  who  in  a  watery  bower  em- 
braces the  indwelling  nymph  with  watery  hands. ^ 
You — the  offspring  of  a  fountain — why  are  you 
pleased  with  the  Archeress  ?  Artemis  did  not  come 
from  the  water  like  Aphrodite.  Tell  that  to  Calli- 
rhoe,  do  not  hide  it  from  Drosera  herself.  You  ought 
rather  to  please  Cypris,  because  she  herself  bent  her 
neck  to  Eros  even  though  she  is  nurse  of  the  loves. 
Accept  the  stings  of  desire,  and  I  will  call  you  by  birth 
one  waterwalking,  by  love  sister  of  Aphrodite.'  So 
he  spoke  ;   and  from  his  backbent  bow  let  fly  three 

*•  Cf.  on  xxxix.  257.  ^  C/.  on  xxxvii.  173. 

VOL.  m  o  193 


NONN06 

TpinXoa  n^^int  ptXtfiva,  kcu  MwSifitp  irap^  waar^ 

Kal  Tvplrj^  coTTCipc  Onifytvi^  at^ta  ytvMaff," 

Tola  luv '  HpoxA^Tjf  no6fio9<Mpo9  hvtmt  B^Jry^ 
TipiplVOOL^  odpoiow  6  M  ^p^vo,  W/rvfTO  fiiWy, 
#fai  7rd/x»'  'HpaicA^t,  toi'  ovparifj  tcdfiM  ^^X'^* 
Xpvao<i>arj  Kfnjrrjpa  a€Xaa^6po¥'  'llpaJcA/i|r  M 
aarpauMj  ^loyvaov  d»^;(Aai!Kiiof  ^^trum. 

Koi  deov  aorpoxiruiva  Tvpov  iroAiofl|yor  MO 


ADDITIONAL  NOTE  TO  HOOK  3CL 


fit 


369  ff.  This  curious  prayer,  or  hTmn,  nriglft  tkmA  b» 
called  a  conipcndium  of  MiUr  ^yncretkm.  OmuUt  pmmt  4tm 
ad  solem  re/trunt^  says  M«m>biu.s  8ai.  L  17.  ff.  Mid  MNM 
examples  of  the  inf^-niou.s  throrixtnfr  by  which  thb  iMall  W 
reached  may  be  found  then-  or  in  Jaltftn's  llwmm  i»  iThM 
Sun  143  D  ff.  (vol.  i.  p.  390  in  L.(  .1^).  Down  Id  ail« 
Dionysos  simply  celebratcA  the  physical  povcr*  of  IIk  mui  t 
then  begrin  the  identifications.  He  ia  **  BdlM  on  dw 
Euphrates  **  ;  the  Gnt-ks  wrrr  a.<>  firmly  cowrtoced  ■•  OMunr 
modem  Bible-readers  that  the  Smutea,  or  tlie  OvfaalHI 
generally,  worshipped  a  god  calU-d  Kaal  or  Bcl«  IIm  Iralll  dP 
course  being  that  baal  Ls  a  S<-niitic  word  for  lord  or  wmtkatt 
and  so  is  applied  to  a  multitude  of  gods.  Tlik  **  BdL**  tiHB» 
being  an  important  deity,  must  be  the  sun,  the  wtan  to  •• 
some  of  the  gods  bearing  that  title  may  have  been  ratllir 
solar.  He  is  "  Libyan  Ammon  "  and  "  the  Assyrian  Zc«s 
because  2Leus  is  the  same  as  Helios  and  Ammoii  is  " 
Apis  is  $olu  nutar,  Macrob.  ibid,  xxL  20,  Crooot,  loM 


194 


DIONYSIACA,  XL.  571-580 

shots.  Then  in  that  watery  bower  he  joined  in  love 
sons  of  the  soil  to  the  Naiads,  and  sowed  the  divine 
race  of  your  family." 

^"^^  So  much  Heracles  leader  of  heaven  said  to 
Bacchos  in  pleasant  gossip.  He  was  delighted  at 
heart  by  the  tale,  and  offered  to  Heracles  a  mixing- 
bowl  of  gold  bright  and  shining,  which  the  art  of 
heaven  had  made  ;  Heracles  clad  Dionysos  in  a 
starry  robe. 

^^9  Then  Bacchos  left  the  Starclad  god,  cityholder 
of  Tyre,  and  went  on  to  another  district  of  Assyria. 


misinterpreted  as  Time,  was  very  easy  to  identify  with  the 
best-known  measure  of  time,  and  therefore  the  gods  of  other 
nations  identified  with  him  (we  do  not  know  what  Arab  god 
Nonnos  means  ;  it  would  be  interesting  if  it  were  Allah)  are 
sun-gods  too.  Sarapis  (399)  had  declared  himself  to  be  the 
Sun,  Macrob.  ibid.  xx.  17,  and  so  he  must  be  Zeus  also ; 
Phaethon  means  Helios  scores  of  times  in  Nonnos,  to  say 
nothing  of  other  writers  ;  Mithra  really  was  a  sun-god  ;  the 
"  Helios  of  Babylon  "  might  be  simply  El ;  Apollo  had  been 
identified  with  Helios  since  the  fifth  century  b.c.  Paian  is 
Apollo  (407)  and  consequently  Helios  also  ;  to  call  the  sun 
the  ether  or  sky  (ibid.)  is  but  a  small  stretch  of  identification 
for  a  syncretist  of  those  days  ;  remains  Gamos  (402),  and 
here  we  seem  to  have  neither  cult  nor  philosophy,  but  a 
literary  pedantry  of  Nonnos's  own.  Philoxenos  the  dithy- 
rambic  poet,  in  a  passage  cited  by  Athenaios,  6  a,  had  called 
Gamos  the  most  brilliant  (Aa/iTrporare)  of  the  gods  ;  now  the 
sun  is  the  most  brilliant  object  in  the  universe,  and  un- 
doubtedly a  god  ;  therefore  Gamos  also  is  Helios,  Q.E.D. ! 


195 


AIONTSIAKHN  TEZSAPAKOCTON 
IIPQTON 

Upwrov  rtaaapoKwrrov  ixti,  iMmf  wlU  lflljpp|f 

oAAt^v  Kvnpw  €riKr€V  * AfivfiutiTiy  *A^|poS^. 


"ApTi  fi€v  6if>pv6€VTo^  xmip  Aifitumo 
Trq^ag  ayXaoKapmov  irtl  yBovx  fiorpu^ 

Kal  l\a<l>ir)s  Sofiov  cfSc  yafii^Xiov'  4|A4^Aofr  M 
ipveaw  dpTitf>uTou7i  PaBvoKiov  oXmK  ipii^ag  S 

d/LiTrcAocv  7rop€  hwpov  *Ahwvthi  koI  Kv^pf^. 

'qfi€piBwv  ^cjarrjpi  Oopwv  €7nfirfTop€  woAfl^ 
KiGaos  d€paL7T6njTog  ipiTpatSTj  tcvnaplootj^, 

'AAAd  defucrroTToXov  lltporj^  Trapi  yc^roM  W(iy    10 
vfivov  *AfiVfJUt)vr)^,  AiPain!jtB€^  ctYrarc  MovofU, 
Kal  Pvdiov  KpovtSao  koX  €vvp,voio  Avalon 
"Apea  KVfiaToevra  kcu  dfiTrcAococrav  'Emw. 

'EoTt    noXlS    BcpOT^,    plOTOV    TpOTTlf, 

OpflO^    *EpCtfTWP, 

TTovroTrayTyj,  evvriao^,  ci^Aooj,  oi;  pd^i^  la^fioG       l§ 

(TT€lVr)    firJKOg    €XOVTOS»    OTTJI    hiSvfJLTl^    fUoOf    oXfllff 

KvpxiGLv  dfitl>oT€poiaLv  IfidaacToi  opdto^  *'^^^X^' 
dAAd  rd  ficv  PaOvbevhpov  xmo  pdxiv  aldcitoi  EtVpoo 
196 


BOOK  XLI 

The  forty-first  tells  how  Aphrodite  bore  Amymone 
a  second  Cypris  to  the  son  of  Myrrha. 

Already  he  had  planted  in  the  earth  the  clustering 
vintage  of  his  glorious  fruit  under  the  beetling  crags 
of  Lebanon,  and  intoxicated  all  the  winebearing 
bottoms  of  the  land.  He  saw  the  wedding-chamber 
of  Paphia ;  there  with  newgrown  shoots  of  the 
gardenvine  he  roofed  a  deep-shaded  grove,  then 
presented  the  viny  gift  to  Adonis  and  Cythereia. 
There  was  also  a  troop  of  Graces ;  and  from  the 
luxuriant  coppice  high  leapt  the  ivy  in  his  girdle  of 
cultivated  vine,  and  climbed  aloft  embracing  the 
cypress. 

1^  Come  now,  ye  Muses  of  Lebanon  on  the  neigh- 
bouring land  of  Beroe,  that  handmaiden  of  law ! 
recite  the  lay  of  Amymone,  the  war  between  Cronides 
of  the  deep"  and  well-besung  Lyaios,  the  war  of 
waters  and  the  strife  of  the  vine. 

^3  There  is  a  city  Beroe,^  the  keel  of  human  life, 
harbour  of  the  Loves,  firmbased  on  the  sea,  with  fine 
islands  and  fine  verdure,  with  a  ridge  of  isthmus 
narrow  and  long,  where  the  rising  neck  between  two 
seas  is  beaten  by  the  waves  of  both.  On  one  side 
it  spreads  under  the  deepwooded  ridge  of  Assyrian 

"  Poseidon.  *  Berytos,  Beyrout. 

197 


NONNOS 

*Aa(TvpLw  Aipdvw  tTapairtirranu,  ^x*  •Oi^^'^Mf 
6pdi,a  crvpl^ovaa  Pioaaoo^  tpx^rai  at^, 
€v6SfjLois  dv€fioiai  nx'naaop.txtiiv  Kvnapi009l¥  •  •  • 
Gvwopo^  IxBvPoXrji  yipuiv  €/i<A/{rro  ««Mfti{r« 
KOi  hofios  aypovofiwv,  oBi  iroAAoxc^  iyyvBi  X&Xfi^ 
Ylavi  fi€Xi^ofA€vu}  hp€mxvJii^6poi  rjjmt^ro  Ai|w, 
Kai  ri;  c^*  Urroporji  ytutp^po^  a^x^  m(|H^f, 
paivwv  apTixapatcTov  otnaBofiiXi^  j|^^wa  m^W^» 
yctrovi  fir)Xopor7Jpi  napa  o^vpa  ^opfMog  Ai|f, 
a<fiiy^as  (Tv^vya  ravpov,  ofuXtt  tcvpr6s  JiporpttSg* 
dXXa  5c  Trap  TrcAaycaaii'  €^1  froAAC*  ifx*  nro^mi 
arcpva  Yloati^utvit  Kal  tpfipvov  <uSy^m 
TT^X^t  pLv^aX€a>  TTtpipaXXtrai  vypof  Jutolnj^, 
-niyLTTiDv  ySarocvro  ^cAvJ/xara  )^cAcoi 

cSva  no<7€iSacu»'o;  dXlrpo^ta  nuMa  Xifonrif 
Sc^wrai,  ix^iwcnra  TroAvxpoa  Scinva  rpatr^ltK, 
elvaXij)  Nrjprjog  i-maKaipovra  rpavHjn, 
dpKTwr)v  TTapd  Trcjav,  ottt;  poBvKVfiOVOf  a#rrT^ 
fiTjKehav^  K€V€(vvi  Bo^io^  cAxcTOi  owAuiy. 
d/i^c  §€  T€ptpii'6ou)  ficarjfiPpiyov  ai^x^Mi  yo^ff 
€t9  paxtrjv  ^oTL-qv  iltapaSwh^U  tlaw  ^rnfftnA 
€Ls  x^ova  SiSoviT^v,  0^1  TTouctXa  ^€vhp€a  in^inwr 
Kttt  ora^uAat  KOfioaxri,  ravimropBoii  hi  vcnfAoif 
hdoKLOs  d7rXav€€aaL  TiTatWrcu  o2fu>9  oS/toac. 
BoxfMoaag  Sc  p€^6pov  cV*  lydvi  rrdiTos'  dpcunm 
d/x^t  Suaiy  /cuavcoTrdi^,  ottji  Xiyvrjx^i  raptnjt 
'EoTTcpltov  Z.€<f>vpoio  Ka6irT7r€voirros  ^muaAcmt 
avpiypiw  SpoaoevTL  ACfiv^  piTriJcTou  ayKan^, 

dv^C/IOClS   0^1   X^POS,   OTTp   TTOpd   yciTOM 

198 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  19-47 

Lebanon  in  the  blazing  East,  and  there  comes  for  its 
people  a  lifesaving  breeze,  whistling  loud  and  shaking 
the  cypress  trees  with  fragrant  winds.  There  the 
ancient  shepherd  shared  his  domain  and  made  his 
music  along  with  the  fisherman  ;  there  was  the 
dwelling  of  the  farmers,  where  often  near  the  wood- 
land, Deo  sickle  in  hand  met  Pan  playing  on  his 
pipes  ;  and  the  husbandman  bending  his  neck  over 
the  plowpole,  and  showering  the  corn  behind  him 
into  the  newcut  furrows  with  backturned  wrist,  the 
bowed  plowman  gripping  his  yoke  of  bulls,  had  con- 
verse with  his  neighbour  the  shepherd  along  the 
foothills  of  the  woodland  pasture.  The  other  part 
by  the  seas  the  city  possesses,  where  she  offers  her 
breast  to  Poseidon,  and  her  watery  husband  em- 
braces the  girl's  pregnant  neck  with  wet  arm,  putting 
moist  kisses  on  the  bride's  lips;  his  bedfellow  in  her 
well-accustomed  bosom  accepts  Poseidon's  familiar 
bride-gifts  from  his  hand  out  of  the  deep,  the  sea- 
bred  flocks  of  the  waters,  the  fishes  of  many  colours 
for  her  banqueting-table,  which  dance  on  the  table 
of  Nereus  in  the  brine,  in  the  region  of  the 
Bear,  where  the  northerly  coast  receives  the  deep 
waves  into  its  long  channel.  About  the  southern 
neck  of  this  delightful  country  sandy  roads  lead 
to  the  southern  hills  and  the  Sidonian  land,  where 
are  all  manner  of  trees  and  vines  thick  with  foliage 
in  the  gardens,  and  a  highway  stretches  that  no 
traveller  can  miss,  overshadowed  with  long  leafy 
branches.  The  sea  bending  its  course  beats  on  the 
shore  about  the  darkfaced  west,  while  the  bight  of 
Libya  is  fanned  by  the  dewy  whistle  of  Zephyros  as 
he  rides  with  shrill-sounding  heel  over  the  western 
channels,  where  is  a  flowery  land,  where  nurseries 

199 


NONN08 

^uraAiat  BaXlovai,  koX  tvnfraXtam  ^mi  l/i<yttp 
daSnari  pofifii^^vri  /zcAiJcrm  ifiwvoof  Am.  4f 

*EvBab€  <f)iur€s  otnov  o^iriKitct^  ^ymmiit%,  51 

ovs  Ovat;  auToy€it6Xo9  dyufju^ih^t  nai  Btofup 
TJpoa€  vooifn  ydfiwv,  andrutp,  oAovtvrof ,  ^tfrutp, 
OTTTTOTC  GVfifJuytwv  dto^ujav  rtrpalyyi  htoiuft 
uSari  Kol  TTvpocvTi  n€^OfUvov  ^pof  dr^u^  Aft 

cn;{[i//a  fiop^ioaaoa  ao^v  r6t(0¥  aanopot  tXi^ 
€fA'rrvoov  i'tjtuvuHJt  yovriv  i-vtaifiom  inyXj^, 
of;  Oval?  €^009  onaaat  r€Ma^6po¥'  o^jyWwou  ydi^ 
KcVpoTTo;  ov  rvnov  €t)(ov,  S^  lofidXtft  iroMf  dJUy 
yaiav  €iri{vwv  o^uoSci  oi^prro  rapatft,  iO 

Wp^c  hpaKCJV,  Kou  vn€p$€v  an*  i(ti09  <KXpt 
oAAo^ini);  drcAcorro?  €<ftaiVtTO  hi)(poot  oan^' 
ov  rvnov  dypiov  €txov  *Kp€xO€Of,  Sw  Ware  ro/ifr 
auAaict  wfi<l>€v<Ta<:  yafiirjv  'H^aurrof  i^poffr 
dXXd  dciov  USaXfia  yoyfj^  avrd^Oon  pUjl  M 

irporro<f>avr)s  XP^^^^  €fiatw$rj  ardxm  JApAf* 
Koi  ^€p6T)s  vdaaavro  noXiv  npurrdawopotf  i&mi», 
riv  Kpovos  avros  €5«i^€,  ao^rj^  art  ytvfum    Pcii^ 
OKpvotv  Oiro  hopTTov  €w  YroAirvai^i  XoA^t^^ 
Koi  Xldov  ElXildviav  €X'i*iv  fi€ppiddm  ^djpm,  70 

dXipofievrjs  TToXvTTcuBo^  djcoi^iarijfM.  ytifMaifS, 
XavSov  oXov  TTorafioto  poov  v€<^XrjS9¥  Ju^iioott¥ 
OTTJ^ct  7ra<f>Xd^ovTi,  fjLoyoaroKov  €aiTaa€V  vSu9p, 
Xvoas  yaaT€pos  oyKov  €Traaavrtpov^  hk  huSunm 
SiGGOTOKovs  vlijag  dvijptr/€v  tytcvo^  au)^,  7ft 

TTopdfiov  c^oiv  roKCToio  X€x<J^iov  dv6€p€uwa' 

*  The  four  elements. 

*  First  king  of  Athens,  a  kind  of  Attic  Adam  t   he  bad 
snakes  for  legs. 

*  He  means  Erichthonk)s,  cf.  xiii.  171  ff. 
200 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  48-76 

bloom  hard  by  the  sea,  and  the  fragrant  forest  per- 
vaded by  humming  winds  sings  from  its  leafy  trees. 
^^  Here  dwelt  a  people  agemates*  with  the 
Dawn,  whom  Nature  by  her  own  breeding,  in 
some  un  wedded  way,  begat  without  bridal, 
without  wedding,  fatherless,  motherless,  unborn : 
when  the  atoms  were  mingled  in  fourfold  com- 
bination, and  the  seedless  ooze  shaped  a  clever 
offspring  by  commingling  water  mth  fiery  heat 
and  air,<*  and  quickened  the  teeming  mud  with 
the  breath  of  life.  To  these  Nature  gave  perfect 
shape :  for  they  had  not  the  form  of  primeval  Cecrops,* 
who  crawled  and  scratched  the  earth  with  snaky  feet 
that  spat  poison  as  he  moved,  dragon  below,  but 
above  from  loins  to  head  he  seemed  a  man  half  made, 
strange  in  shape  and  of  twyform  flesh  ;  they  had  not 
the  savage  form  of  Erechtheus,"  whom  Hephaistos 
begat  on  a  furrow  of  Earth  with  fertilizing  dew  ;  but 
now  first  appeared  the  golden  crop  of  men  brought 
forth  in  the  image  of  the  gods,**  with  the  roots  of  their 
stock  in  the  earth.  And  these  dwelt  in  the  city  of 
Beroe,  that  primordial  seat  which  Cronos  himself 
builded,  at  the  time  when  invited  by  clever  Rheia  he 
set  that  jagged  supper  before  his  voracious  throat,  and 
having  the  heavy  weight  of  that  stone  within  him 
to  play  the  deliverer's  part,  he  shot  out  the  whole 
generation  of  his  tormented  children.  Gaping  wide, 
he  sucked  up  the  storming  flood  of  a  whole  river,  and 
swallowed  it  in  his  bubbling  chest  to  ease  his  pangs, 
then  threw  off  the  burden  of  his  belly  ;  so  one  after 
another  his  pregnant  throat  pushed  up  and  dis- 
gorged his  twiceborn  sons  through  the  dehvering 
channel  of  his  gullet. 

^  The  Golden  Age. 

201 


NONNOS 

ZcVJ  TOTC  KOVpO^  hjV,  <Ti  TtOV  fip^^Of  OV  WOT€ 

aar€p<mri  airAdyiJc,  koI  ov   lir^riB*  X^P^ 

Zrjvos  do<r<rqrijp€^  ourrtvoyro  tetpawoi'  tO 

PpovTol-q  papvSovno^  ip6fip€€v  ofipMOf  4x^* 
oAAa  TToAt?  BcpoT;  Trportpt)  irdXfv,  fjy  fya  ynig 
irputTOifMinji  €v67ja€v  ofirjXuca  avfi^rvrot  hltttf 
ov  TOTC  'Vapaos  trjv  r€p*ltifiPporo^t  o^  ▼'^^  ^^fi'%•  ^ 
ov  TOTC  Laf>5icf  ^aat',  oirn  IIoxrcuAiSof  S](0ffg 
Xpvaov  €p€vyofUvr)^  dfxapvoatrai  oXfiuH  tXik» 
£ap8i€9,  'HcAioio  oimiAiiccy  ow  y/nx  <u4|p«r« 
ou  TOTe  Tt9  »roAi9  i^***  *Axauay,  oi^  tcoi  fl^n^ 
*ApKaBiri  trpoaiXr^x'o^-  dvtfiXaarrfat  Si  liudjlf  fO 

np€apvTiipri  <^addovro^,  o$€v  ^do^  lo)fC  £cXnn|9 
icat  (f>6ap.€vrj  -j^Bova  traaav,  €w  rra^i^tjfroM  tciXin^ 
'HcAiou  i'€o^yy€5  d/xcAyo/iVvi;  atXas  ofyAi^ 
#cat  ^09  o^iTcAccTTov  oKoc^ifroio  ^Av}i^4 
nponr)  Kvavdrjg  aTrcaciaaTO  iftDitw'  ofuxXtjf,  90 

ical  vdco;  ^o^cacrai^  dntarv^KXift  KoAvnipt^' 
Kal  ^dafxdvrj  Kimpoio  koI  '\aSp.iov  aarv  KopuSop 
irpwTT)  Kimpiv  ehiKTo  ^iAo(ctra>  truAcovn 
cf  oAoj  opTtAdxcvToi',  oTc  ^pvxlr)v  ^A^tpMnft 
Ovpavlrj^  w6iv€v  an*  auAoxo?  tyKvov  vSttp,  100 

OTTTTodi  v6a<l>i  ydfJLwv  dpoaa^  poov  dpatvt  Xi$p^ 
avToreXrjs  p.op<f>ovro  Bvyarpoyovw  yoM>9  d/^pt^t 
Kox  Oucji?  cttActo  fidia'  awavrcAAoiv  S^  Staurji 
ariKTos  tfxds-,  ar€(f>avr)h6v  in*  l(vi  kvkXov  cA&jfa^, 
avrofiaTO}  ^loarijpi  Sc/ia;  plrputaev  dvdatm.  106 

#cai  ^£o?  i;(V€UotK7a  81*  i>5aT09  dj^n^v  dtrrrfv 
ov   Ild<t>oVt  ovK  cVt  Buj3Ao>'  dvihpafuv, 

ov  noba  X^P^ 
203 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  77-107 

'^  Zeus  was  then  a  child,  still  a  baby  methinks ; 
not  yet  the  lightning  flashed  and  cleft  the  hot  clouds 
with  many  a  dancing  leap,  not  yet  bolts  of  Zeus 
were  shot  to  help  in  the  Titans'  war,  not  yet  the 
rainy  sound  of  thunderclaps  roared  heavily  with 
bang  and  boom  through  colliding  clouds  :  but  be- 
fore that,  the  city  of  Beroe  was  there,  which  Time 
with  her  first  appearing  saw  when  born  together 
with  her  agemate  Earth.  Tarsos  the  delight  of 
mankind  was  not  then,  Thebes  was  not  then,  nor 
then  was  Sardis  where  the  bank  of  Pactolos  sparkles 
with  opulent  ooze  disgorged,  Sardis  agemate  of 
Helios.  The  race  of  men  was  not  then,  nor  any 
Achaian  city,  nor  yet  Arcadia  itself  which  came 
before  the  moon.  Beroe  alone  grew  up,  older  than 
Phaethon,  from  whom  Selene  got  her  light,  even 
before  all  the  earth,  milking  out  from  Helios  the 
shine  of  his  newmade  brightness  upon  her  all- 
mothering  breast  and  the  later  perfected  light 
of  unresting  Selene  Beroe  first  shook  away  the 
cone  of  darkling  mist,  and  threw  off  the  gloomy 
veil  of  chaos.  Before  Cyprus  and  the  Isthmian 
city  of  Corinth,  she  first  received  Cypris  within 
her  welcoming  portal,  newly  born  from  the  brine; 
when  the  water  impregnated  from  the  furrow  of 
Uranos  was  delivered  of  deepsea  Aphrodite ;  when 
without  marriage,  the  seed  plowed  the  flood  with 
male  fertility,  and  of  itself  shaped  the  foam  into 
a  daughter,  and  Nature  was  the  midwife — coming 
up  with  the  goddess  there  was  that  embroidered 
strap  which  ran  round  her  loins  like  a  belt,  set  about 
the  queen's  body  in  a  girdle  of  itself.  Then  the 
goddess,  moving  through  the  water  along  the  quiet 
shore,  ran  out,  not  to  Paphos,  not  to  Byblos,  set  no 

203 


NONNOS 

KwXidBos  prjYfuvos  €^pfiootv,  dAAa  #rtu 

<jjKxn€pjf  arpo<l>aXiyYi  napirf^xt^  iarw 

KoX  xpoa  ^vKtocvri  trtpirpijnoa  tnpf&iifif^  HO 

7rop<f>vp€rj  TTcAc  fiaXXov  oKUfuarrouf  oi  vwrov 

;(€t/)a9  €p€rfi4jjoaaa  6€rjr6tcov  llaxjUFtv  vooad 

vrjxoti€yrj,  kcu  aripfvav  iwurropiowm  9aXio9§ 

GiyaXlriv  avtKoirrt  xapacraofi^^  (Ua  t<ai^Oi^« 

iroaaiv  dfioipaloiaiv  diturr^pov  wBttP 
Kol  BcpoT)^  Mfioivt'  mjhuiv  8'  MfioBpa 

TTpWTT)    KvnplV    cSciCTO-    Kol    W^i   yfiTOPOf 
7)l6v€S   poStOUJW   €<f>OiViaQOVTO    KOpVfAfioit, 

Trirpr)  S*  ajf>pi6ii}aa  OvwSto^  tytcvoi  oSkw 

'nop<f>vp€T)v  ilihlva  \apahpalut  TtK€  ffta(4'» 

XTjvaiOLis  At/3<z5€a(7i  irarctaircov  Ofxfipov  idptnfi  ...  US 

dpy€vvri  K€\dpvt,€  yaXa^alw  X*'*"^  dXKt^* 

avToyyrov  Sc  fivpoio  ficrdpaiov  drfioy  iXioffm^ 

'q€piovs  €fJL€dvaa€  nopov^  €voSfioi  di^rrff, 

Kai  Tore  Oovpov  'Eporra,  yovrfi  ttpotrdanopom  <V>X^* 

dpfiovL7]s  KoopLOio  ff>€p€a^iov  f^vtoxfjia,  130 

dpri,^av7)S  ai6i.v€v  in*  d^pvoi  ytiTovog  6p§iov' 

Kai  ndts  wKxmoSrj^f  Konov  dpaeva  troaoi  rtpdfuif, 

yaarpos  dfiaicirroio  p^oyoaroKOv  €^Bao€9  wpnff, 

p.rjrpog  dwfi<f>€UTOio  /x€fiuicora  K6Xno¥  dpdfaf, 

Sepp^og  €Ti  irpo  tokoio'  KvPiOTrjrrjpi  5^  iraAfi^  135 

*  In  Attica.     All  these  places  are  famoiu 
worship  of  Aphrodite. 

204 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  108-135 

foot  on  land  by  the  dry  beach  of  Colias,**  even  passed 
by  Cythera's  city  itself  with  quicker  circuit  :  aye, 
she  rubbed  her  skin  with  bunches  of  seaweed  and 
made  it  purpler  still  ;  paddling  x^-ith  her  hands  she 
cleft  the  birthwaters  of  the  waveless  deep,  and  swam  ; 
resting  her  bosom  upon  the  sea  she  struck  up  the 
silent  brine,  marking  it  udth  her  feet,  and  kept  her 
body  afloat,  and  as  she  cut  through  the  calm,  pushed 
the  water  behind  her  with  successive  thrusts  of  her 
feet,  and  emerged  at  Beroe.  Those  footsteps  of  the 
goddess  coming  out  from  the  sea  are  all  Ues  of  the 
people  of  Cyprus.^ 

^1^  Beroe  first  received  Cypris  ;  and  above  the 
neighbouring  roads,  the  meadows  of  themselves  put 
out  plants  of  grass  and  flowers  on  all  sides  ;  in  the 
sandy  bay  the  beach  became  ruddy  with  clumps  of 
roses,  the  foamy  stone  teemed  with  sweetsmelling 
wine  and  brought  forth  purple  fruit  on  its  rocky 
bosom,  a  shadowing  shower  of  dew  with  the  liquor 
of  the  winepress,"  ...  a  white  rill  bubbled  with 
milky  juice :  the  fragrant  breeze  wafted  upwards 
the  curling  vapours  of  scent,  selfspread,  and  in- 
toxicated the  paths  of  the  air.  There,  as  soon  as 
she  was  seen  on  the  brows  of  the  neighbouring 
harbourage,  she  brought  forth  wild  Eros,  first  seed 
and  beginning  of  generation,  quickening  guide  of 
the  system  of  the  universe ;  and  the  quickleg  boy, 
kicking  manfully  with  his  Hvely  legs,  hastened  the 
hard  labour  of  that  body  \\ithout  a  nurse,  and  beat 
on  the  closed  womb  of  his  unwedded  mother ;  then 
a   hot  one  even   before   birth,  he  shook   his   hght 

*  Possibly  this  means  that  some  marks  on  the  rocks  in 
Cjrprus  were  shown  as  the  prints  of  Aphrodite's  feet. 

*  The  loss  of  one  or  more  lines  makes  this  obscure. 

205 


NONNOS 

Bw€vwv  'm€pa  KOV<l>a  wvAay  anff  Xoxthft, 

aaraTo^  dKXiv€€aaiv  'Kpoiy  cb'CiraAArro  fiaf/oif, 
arrjdcl  naihoKOfiw  rtrawofUvoi'  <fx*  ^  4'^pfi^ 
tfi€pov  avToSibaKTov  ayrifUXtCTOiO  h^  ^f^^  M0 

aKpa  hoKwv  yovifxcov  XiPdBotv  TtBXimUvtm  fytfi^ 
otBaX€wv  dKoprjroi  oXov  yAayof  Itnraov  |«lC6r. 

'Pi{a  /3toi;,  Ikpov;,  TroAutfT  rpo^,  t^x^  ipitmrn, 
'npwro<f>avr^t  Aiwvo^  ofxoimopf,  avyxpO¥€  tf6afiov, 

cvStov  Ev<f>f>oavvr)^ ,  Ila^'i/f  bofio^,  ohtof  ^Epufntv, 
BaKxov  TipTTVov  cBc^Aov,  IvavXuw  loxtoifi/fft, 
NrjpetSwv  dvdBfifia,  Ato?  ^fxo^,  *Ap€Ot  adkf, 
*0pxofi€v6^  \apiru}v,  Aipayfjibo^  darpov  Ji^tvprft, 
Tr)6vo9  lao€Tr)po^,  ofiobpofio^  *li#rcayoa>,  IfO 

OS  Bcporyv  €<f>vr€V<T€v  €tu  troXtmihain  mar^ 
Trjdvos  iKfiaXeoiaiv  ofLiXrjctas  v^vauHf, 
TJv  TT€p  * Ap.vp.wvr]v  cTTc^TJ/iiaai',  ciJr/  ^  M^f'V 
vSprjXrjs  <f>iX6njTos  viToppv\lri  riK€v  ciV^. 

*AAAa  TLS  oirXoripT]  TrcAcToi  ^m,  orrl  iu¥  oM^  IM 
dvhpofierjs  Kvd€p€ia  Kvfi€pvrfT€ipa  yvW^Ai^ 
*Aaavpux}  TTavXevKov  *A5a»vi5c  ycotiro  fiifrrip' 
Kal  hp6px>v  ivi'caKVKXov  dvanXi^aaaa  HcAi^n^ 
ff>6pTov  iXa<f>pi^€i'  <f>ddp.€vos  §€  /xiv  cu#c/i  mpa^, 
iaGOfievwv  Ki^pvKa,  AarivtiSa  ScAtov,  o^^xur,  100 

€19  BcpoT]?  coStva  pxryoaroKos  "^XvBtv  'Epft^, 
Kai  0e/xi9  ElAci^ucq,  fcal  otSoAcoi;  Sea  koAttou 

*  i.e.  as    much  beloved    by  them   as  Orchouwot,  the 

ancient  seat  of  their  cult,  r/.  xvi.  131. 

^  Whether  either  legend  is  older  thaa  Nonooa  or  hit 
206 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  136-162 

wings  and  with  a  tumbling  push  opened  the  gates  of 
birth.  Thus  quickly  Eros  leapt  into  his  mother's 
gleaming  arms,  and  pounced  at  once  upon  her  firm 
breasts  spreading  himself  over  that  nursing  bosom. 
Untaught  he  yearned  for  his  food;  he  bit  with  his 
gums  the  end  of  the  teat  never  milked  before,  and 
greedily  drank  all  the  milk  of  those  breasts  swollen 
with  the  pressure  of  the  lifegiving  drops. 

1*3  O  Beroe,  root  of  hfe,  nurse  of  cities,  the  boast 
of  princes,  the  first  city  seen,  twin  sister  of  Time, 
coeval  with  the  universe,  seat  of  Hermes,  land  of 
justice,  city  of  laws,  bower  of  Merryheart,  house 
of  Paphia,  hall  of  the  Loves,  delectable  ground  of 
Bacchos,  home  of  the  Archeress,  jewel  of  the  Nereids, 
house  of  Zeus,  court  of  Ares,  Orchomenos  of  the 
Graces,"  star  of  the  Lebanon  country,  yearsmate  of 
Tethys,  running  side  by  side  with  Oceanos,  who  begat 
thee  in  his  bed  of  many  fountains  when  joined  in 
watery  union  with  Tethys — Beroe  the  same  they 
named  Amymone  when  her  mother  brought  her 
forth  on  her  bed  in  the  deep  waters ! 

1^^  But  there  is  a  younger  legend,^  that  her  mother 
was  Cythereia  herself,  the  pilot  of  human  life,  who 
bore  her  all  white  to  Assyrian  Adonis.  Now  she  had 
completed  the  nine  circles  of  Selene's  course  carrying 
her  burden  :  but  Hermes  was  there  in  time  on  speedy 
foot,  holding  a  Latin  ^  tablet  which  was  herald  of 
the  future.  He  came  to  help  the  labour  of  Beroe,  and 
Themis  '^  was  her  Eileithyia — she  made  a  way  through 

invention  may  be  doubted.  All  this  mixture  of  pedantry 
and  prettiness  has  for  its  inspiration  the  great  law  school  of 
Berytus  (Beirut). 

*  It  was  of  course  Roman  law  that  was  taught  at  Berytus, 
although  not  at  the  time  of  Solon  (see  line  165). 

^  Goddess  of  Justice. 

207 


NONNOS 

(rr€tvofi€vrf^  wSivo^  dvatrrvfaaa  ffaAvai^ip 

oii)  p€Xos  Kow^it  n€n<uyofi4vwf  rottmio, 

deafia  1.6Xwvo^  txovoa-  mtiofjJmi  M  Aoxt^f  *• 

XvGiTOKcj  Papv  vurrov  i-nucXivaaa  B^niifJi 

iraiBa  ao<fn)v  fXoxftfOt,  Aoxcut^f  otci  ywialictf 

viw  a>Sivovaiv  cV*  €VKV9cXoiO  fitHvm' 

Kox  roKov  dpriXox^vTov  dndimH  Bi^i  iMim^p         110 

dpatva  fialav  Ixovaa  bixaanoXo^  tfUa  Mmi^f * 

Kal  Pp€4>o^  €iV  fdoi  ^V'    ix^XufOorro  hi  Kovpnff 

T€aaap€S  acrrca  iravra,  ou'trwfVO¥nt  cii|TOA, 

€K  BcpoT}?  ira  yalav  oAiji^  nXj^ooMn  Btid^rmr 

TTJ  §€  Xox^tfOfUVTf  npundyytXot  cMn  fcoyifir         17* 

*i2if€avo5  Trope  x**'^^  A<x«^»'  *f«*  irrfo|iO» 

dcvdoi  rcAa/xcD^i  x<<('*'  furpovu4VC¥  vimp* 

X^pol  Sc  yqpaXfrfaiv  €?  aprtriMrov  XP<^  ^to^ipilf 

(mdpyava  rreVAa  Ai#o}?  dK(icov^i4y«  whtrpo^t  Att^, 

fidvTLS  €'n€aaofi€vwv,  on  yn^paof  ^}fioit  dlM^pntfT^     IM 

a>?  o^i?  dSpavcoii'  <f>oXiBwv  antlfnifUk  rumfag, 

€fjL7raXiv  ■fjPrja€i€  A(AovfiAx>f  oS/aooi  tfiO|M3r* 

deoTrcairjv  Sc  ^iJyoTpa  Xox€VOfUvrK  *Ai^pMnft 

avvBpoov  iKpovaavTo  fi€Xo^  rfrpa^vyts  *Ppa*. 

Kat  ria^iT}?  coStva  rcAcaai/di'oco  iiaB6tms  IW 

dijpcs  i^KX'^vovro'  Xiatv  h€  rt;  ^fip^  MSputif 
X^CXe'C  fX€iXLX^w  paxiy)v  tfimdl^tTO  ravptm^ 
OLKpoTepois  arofidrcaat  ifnXov  fWKififi/inf  IdXXuift 
Kat  TpoxaXfj  papvbouTTov  i-nipfr^aQOMW  w^Sor  6m^ 
timos  dv€KpoTdXi^€  ymdXiov  ^xov  apQatn»f¥,  >W 

fcat  TToSo;  vtpiiTopoio  dopcjv  iirtpr/Topi  voAfuJii 
TTopSoAi?  atoAovorroj  €77€aKlpnia€  Xayot^, 
wpvyfjs  5'  oAoAvy/xa  x^'coi^  ^cAorrouy/iOVt  Xatfu^ 

208 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  163-193 

the  narrow  opening  of  the  swollen  womb  for  the 
child,  and  unfolded  the  wrapping,  and  lightened  the 
sharp,  pang  of  the  ripening  birth,  with  Solon's  laws 
in  hand.  Cypris  under  the  oppression  of  her  travail 
leaned  back  heavily  against  the  ministering  goddess, 
and  in  her  throes  brought  forth  the  wise  child  upon 
the  Attic  book,  as  the  Laconian  women  bring  forth 
their  sons  upon  the  round  leather  shield.  She  brought 
forth  her  newborn  child  from  her  motherly  womb 
with  Hermes  the  Judge  to  help  as  man-midwife.  So 
she  brought  the  baby  into  the  light.  The  girl  was 
bathed  by  the  four  Winds,  which  ride  through  all 
cities  to  fill  the  whole  earth  with  the  precepts  of 
Beroe.  Oceanos,  first  messenger  of  the  laws  for  the 
newborn  child,  sent  his  flood  for  the  childbed  round 
the  loins  of  the  world,  pouring  his  girdle  of  water  in 
an  everflowing  belt.  Time,  his  coeval,  with  his  aged 
hands  swaddled  about  the  newborn  girl's  body  the 
robes  of  Justice,  prophet  of  things  to  come  ;  because 
he  would  put  off  the  burden  of  age,  like  a  snake 
throwing  off  the  rope-Hke  slough  of  his  feeble  old 
scales,  and  grow  young  again  bathed  in  the  waves 
of  Law.  The  four  Seasons  struck  up  a  tune  to- 
gether, when  Aphrodite  brought  forth  her  wonderful 
daughter. 

185  The  beasts  were  wild  with  joy  when  they  learnt 
of  the  Paphian's  child  safely  born.  The  lion  in  play- 
ful sport  pressed  his  mouth  gently  on  the  bull's  neck, 
and  uttered  a  friendly  growl  with  pouting  lips.  The 
horse  rattled  off,  scraping  the  ground  with  thuds  of 
galloping  feet,  as  he  beat  out  a  birthday  tune.  The 
spotted  panther  leaping  on  high  with  bounding  feet 
capered  towards  the  hare.  The  wolf  let  out  a 
triumphal  howl  from  a  merry  throat  and  kissed  the 

VOL.  Ill  p  209 


NONNOS 

dSpvirroi9  ytvvtaoi  Xvtcoq  npoumrvf^ro  wmM/nf^t 
Kai  Ttj  €vl  (vXoxoiOi  Xinwv  tc€^taiaa96o¥  tyf^, 
dXXov  €x<ov  yXvKUv  oUrrpor,  a^uXkifrijpi  X"f^ 
opxr)(7rrjp  ipiSoivt  kvumv  pfjrdppAom  ffomw, 
Kal  TToSas  opBwaaaa,  irtpinXM)fi€taa  U  i€tf§, 
dpKTog  dbr)XriTi{t  bafiaXrjv  ^tcdaOQirO  3«0|l^» 
TTVKvd  3c  KvpTwaaaa  ^iXi^fnov  ^prvya  KOf^ffi 
TTopTis  dv€aKipTria€,  bifiai  Ai^/uiMia  Acairi|f, 
rjfiiTeXig  p.vKT)pLa  vtutv  ntfinovati  ytv^ittv^ 
Koi  (l>iXiwv  iXifftavTi  hpatcutv  i^vtv 
Kal  bpv€s  c^<yfavTo*  yoAiji^uui  bi 
rfdd&a  TTtpLTTi  ytXarra  ^^iXo^^uUnfi  *A^pMni, 
T€pnopL€vo}v  opoioaa  Ac^aMa  irof^Ma  m|^dr. 
irdai  pu€v  diu^XiXil^t  y^Y^ffidmi  tainXo¥  ^ironH|f, 
•ndaw  ofioC'  fiovvijv  5<  avdfv  a^tc  it^Ac  Anlovtir 
repncjXrjv,  art  pAvri^,  tntl  owoy  curont  fto^iji 
"Aprjg  KapxapoScjv  Bavarq^pov  toy  utAAoir 
^rjXop.avrji  i^ficAAcv  'ASiui'i^i  ir6rfiO¥  C^aLmw. 

Kai  hepoTjv  •ytXooHjav  crt  ppt^toi  Ofifiart  Xnp^ 
he^afjJvri  napd  firjrpos  dXov  KOa^uHO  iMfm 
napdevos  *Aarpai7),  XP^^^V^  Bptimtpa  ymBXtftt 
€wofia  TraTnrd^ovaav  dvtTpti^v  €fi/^pom  fAof^** 
TTdpBevLw  8(  ydXatcri  pod;  pXv^ovaa  $€fiumm^ 
;^eiA€a  naibos  €h€VO€, 

Kcu  c/SAucv  CK  OTO^  irovjpi|( 
*Ar^tSo9  i^Svrdiroio  'ntpidXulKxaa  fuXiaatif 


*  Kal  Spv€s.     As  this  makes  no  •en* 
read  oCpvyft,  supfxising  the  loM  of  a  line 
204    or    between    (^ry^orro   and    la^ia/y,    to 
*'  And  the  gazelles  uttered  [a  fricndlj  call  in  •mmm  •»  lh« 
810 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  194-220 

sheep  with  jaws  that  tore  not.  The  hound  left  his 
chase  of  the  deer  in  the  thickets,  now  that  he  felt  a 
passion  strange  and  sweet,  and  danced  in  tripping 
rivalry  with  the  sportive  boar.  The  bear  lifted  her 
forefeet  and  threw  them  round  the  heifer's  neck,  em- 
bracing her  with  a  bond  that  did  no  hurt.  The  calf 
bending  again  and  again  in  sport  her  rounded  head, 
skipt  up  and  licked  the  lioness's  body,  while  her 
young  lips  made  a  half-completed  moo.  The  serpent 
touched  the  friendly  tusks  of  the  elephant,  and  the 
trees  ^  uttered  a  voice. 

204  With  calm  face  ever-smiling  Aphrodite  rang  out 
her  unfailing  laugh,  when  she  saw  the  birthday  games 
of  the  happy  beasts.  She  turned  her  round  eyes 
delighted  in  all  directions  ;  only  the  boars  she  would 
not  watch  in  their  pleasures,  for  being  a  prophet 
she  knew,  that  in  the  shape  of  a  wild  boar,  Ares  with 
jagged  tusk  and  spitting  deadly  poison  was  destined 
to  weave  fate  for  Adonis  in  jealous  madness.'' 

212  Virgin  Astraia,  nurse  of  the  whole  universe, 
cherisher  of  the  Golden  Age,  received  Beroe  from  her 
mother  into  the  embrace  of  her  arms,  laughing,  still  a 
babe,*'  and  fed  her  with  wise  breast  as  she  babbled 
words  of  law.  With  her  virgin  milk,  she  let  streams  of 
statutes  gush  into  the  baby's  lips,  and  dropt  into  the 
girl's  mouth  the  sweet  produce  of  the  Attic  bee  ;  she 
pressed  the  bee's  riddled  travail  of  many  cells,  and 
mixed  the  voiceful  comb  in  a  sapient  cup.     If  the  girl 

tiger's  (or  some  other  carnivore's)  purrl."  For  a  possible 
imitation  of  this  passage  by  Milton,  see  Paradise  Lost^  iv. 
340  If. 

^  All  stories  agree  that  Adonis  was  killed  by  a  boar,  but 
differ  as  to  what,  if  anything.  Ares  had  to  do  with  it. 

"  A  sign  of  a  wonder-child,  see  Ed.  Norden,  Die  Geburt 
des  Kindes  (Teubner  1924),  p.  65. 

211 


N05W0S 

€t  TTOTC  SupaXerf  irorou  jttccv,  Mpcyf  iwi^pW 
llu^ioi'  'ATToAAoivi  AoAoi'  tr<^uAayyiA«r  ADi|p 
^  pool'  *[Xiaaoio,  roy  t^nvoov  'ArtfiSi  Modvy 
UupiKoi  hovtovoiv  in*  ff6%%  ^OifidiS€t  aSpiU'  tM 

Kal  ardxyv  aartpottrra  ntpiyvofufnaa  9rtip4§ifim  m 
)(pva€ov,  old  'n€p  opfiovt  iv*  av^^  tfvjuaro  uompnft,  fli 
icoupat  5*  a/?pa  Xcnrpa  yppirwUt  *O^X'0|MMi»  tli 

dfjL<f>iTroXoi  Ua^rji  /iC/xcAi^^/Kir  ^pvfo  tlo^atg  'M 
eV  Kpn^vrjg  dpvovro  voiqfiovof  Tinruir  iBwy.  '^ 

Kai  B€/>oi7  pXdarTfO€v  ofMpofUH  2o!X*<>4v«  ''^ 

SiKTva  Brjprjrrjpo^  d€pTd^ovoa  rotniof 
Koi  UcL^irjq  oXov  €tBos  ofu>yKtor  cfyi  rciroi{9i|f 
#(ai  noSag  aiyAi/cvra;*  ^tpfcw/naa  hi  m^nm 
Xioviu)  oKaipovaa  B/rc;  prp-dpfiovt  rapo^ 
aXXr)v  dpYvpontiav  tb*v  HcViv*  a28ofi^ri|  hi  flf 

KpvvT€TO  beifJLaivovaa  iraAiy  ar^fUi  KaooMVt^. 
*\a<Tvpi-qv  3*  MpTjv  hthoKTjfi^vos  d^vya  iwiffiff 
7j€VS  naXiv  €7Troirfro,  Kal  rjBtXiV  c25o(  <t^i€i'^r 
Kal  yv  K€  <f>6proy  ^Kpurrog  tx^*'  ravptimbi  ^op^§ 
aKpofiatfrr^s  Trc^/n/ro  5i*  vharoi  cyt'o^  iftiommFf       MO 
Kovif>Ll^o}v  dhiavroy  vnip  ytirroto  ywauca, 
€1  fi-q  fiyrjarig  €pvK€  fiooKpalptav  vfuv<uut¥ 
XiSoyist  dcrr€p6€v  ht  /icAo?  {i;AtJ^oi^  Xaifi/^ 
wn<f>i09  Evpwmjs  p,VKi^aaTOt  Tavpof  *OAilyi«ov, 
fiTj  Poos  laoTVTTOio  hi    oldtpo^  cuTOKi  rci^(Ctfr  Si5 

irovroTTopwy  ar^octc  v€orr€poy  darpov  'E^wTwr* 

KOi    Bc/K)?^!'   Stcpoiait'   6<f>€tXofl€VTjy    VflfVaUMf 

•  The  star  Spica,  which  Virgo-AstrMa  hokb  te  her  Ivad. 

*  Peirene  in  Corinth,  or  Hippocrmc  in  llrlkv 
'  Mother  of  Andromeda,  c/.  uv.  135:  Tbeti* 

21S 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  221-247 

thirsting  asked  for  a  drink,  she  gave  the  speaking 
Pythian  water  kept  for  Apollo,  or  the  stream  of 
Ilissos,  which  is  inspired  by  the  Attic  Muse  when  the 
Pierian  breezes  of  Phoibos  beat  on  the  bank.  She 
took  the  golden  Cornstalk"  from  the  stars,  and  en- 
twined it  in  a  cluster  to  put  round  the  girl's  neck 
like  a  necklace.  The  dancing  maidens  of  Orchomenos, 
handmaids  of  the  Paphian,  drew  from  the  horsehoof  * 
fountain  of  imagination,  dear  to  the  nine  Muses, 
delicate  water  to  wash  her. 

230  Beroe  grew  up,  and  coursed  with  the  Archeress, 
carrying  the  nets  of  her  hunter  sire.  She  had  the 
very  likeness  of  her  Paphian  mother,  and  her  shining 
feet.  When  Thetis  came  up  out  of  the  sea  to  skip 
with  snowy  dancing  foot,  she  saw  another  silverfoot 
Thetis,  and  hid  in  shame,  fearing  the  raillery  of 
Cassiepeia  ^  once  again.  Zeus  perceiving  another  un- 
wedded  maiden  of  Assyria,  was  fluttered  again  and 
wished  to  change  his  form  :  certainly  he  would  have 
carried  the  burden  of  love  in  bull's  form  again,  skim- 
ming away  with  his  legs  in  the  water,  paddling  along, 
bearing  the  woman  unwetted  on  his  back,  had  he  not 
been  held  back  by  the  memory  of  that  Sidonian**  bull- 
horned  wedding,  and  had  not  the  Bull  of  Olympos, 
Europa's  bridegroom,  bellowed  from  out  the  stars 
with  jealous  throat,  to  think  that  he  might  set  up 
there  a  new  star  of  seafaring  amours  and  make  the 
image  of  a  rival  bull  in  the  sky.  So  he  left  Beroe, 
who  was  destined  for  a  watery  bridal,  as  his  brother's 

will  once  more  be  told,  this  time  with  truth,  that  someone  else, 
viz.  Beroe,  is  more  beautiful  than  the  Nereids.  "  Silverfoot " 
is  Thetis's  stock  epithet. 

^  To  Nonnos's  free  and  easy  geography  Assyria  and  Sidon 
are  much  the  same,  and  Berytus  is  more  or  less  equivalent  to 
both. 

213 


NONN'OS 
yvwrw  A^itrcv  aKoiriv,  tirixSovdj^  wtpl  vfift^fft 

ToIt)  €tjv  Bfporj,  Xapirwv  BaXof'  ft  «OTt  KO^fl  Ml 
XapoT€fyrjv  aifipXoio  fitXippurov  ^irvf  ^tit¥^, 
tJSucttt)?  aKoprjTOi  €<f>iaraTo  )(€iXta%  ficwti 
Kal  mwra^  oiarprfotv  axTjAiyran'  ^p^Mic 
'Aaavplrf^  8'  €Kptmrov  oft^yvptv  ^Aorof  i|f^ 

<l>aihpoT€pais  yaplrtaaw,  oaoi'  TtXdov  &aTpa 

aw€<f>€Xovg  oLKTifa^  oiartvovoa  UtAi^ni 

TrAt^cTt^Tjj-  Acufcoi  &<  napa  a^vpa  vtiara 

nop<f>vp€ois  /icAc'caaiv  i^oiviaoovro  x^rw¥9t- 

ov  v€p.€Ois  noTt  rotm>,  ircu  ci  nXio¥  rjkucQt  ^HhH    ^^ 

rrjXLKOv  €XXax(v  tl^Of,  ^iT€i  yv  ol  afi4*  w^oowpy 

KoAAca  5i;(daS(tuv  a/iapixrarro  ^ihpa  rom^cifr. 

wKvreprjv  cAcAi^c  'n€piarp<jj^ataa  /i€itMin^« 
#cat  Fooi'  iTrrrcuaaoa  Trcpi  x^o»«  ndaxip  <SAifn|v  SM 

<l>aibpa  7raXaty€V€CJv  5cc/A«rpcc  paBpa  woXifm^, 
oTTt  <f>€pix>wp.ly)v  tXitcamt&o^  cf)^  MtNn{ri|f 
ar€fifiaTt  tcix^iociti  7rcp<{<uo^cuni  MtMn{ri| 
KvfcAomcoi^  #ca»'o»^(7(rc,  iral  <o(  i^or^  irap^  N«A^ 
^vPv^  o.px^yovoio  ^pwi'Vfio^  crrXtro  OijP»;*  t1* 

#cai  BcpoT}?  p.€V€aiv€v  trratwfiov  darv  xapa(ai, 
dvTiTVTTOJV  fi€6€7rovaa  4>iXorrroXiv  otarpov  *E^KiiToir. 
<f>pa^op.€V7j  b€  ZoAcoi'o;  aAc^ixoictuv  <rri;(a  Btafiwtf 
boxp-t-ov  oppa  TiTOii'cv  cV  cupvayiMOF  *A9i}yi|r, 
yvcor^9  ^TjAoi'  €xovua  hiKoanoXov  ioavfUmif  hi      Tn 
'qcptrjv  diffiSa  Si€ppoi^rjO€  irtbiXip 

€t9   b6pX}V   *AppOVirjS   TTOp.fl'qTOpOf,   Ol 


DIONYSIACA,  XLL  248-277 

bedfellow,  for  he  wished  not  to  quarrel  with  Earth- 
shaker  about  a  mortal  wife. 

250  Such  was  Beroe,  flower  of  the  Graces.  If  ever 
the  girl  uttered  her  voice  trickling  sweeter  than 
honey  and  the  honeycomb,  winning  Persuasion  sat 
ever  upon  her  lips  and  enchanted  the  clever  wits 
of  men  whom  nothing  else  could  charm.  Her  laugh- 
ing eyes  outshone  all  the  company  of  her  young 
Assyrian  agemates  as  they  shot  their  shafts  of 
love,  with  brighter  graces,  like  the  moon  at  the 
full,  when  showering  her  cloudless  rays  and  hiding 
the  stars.  Her  white  robes  falling  down  to  the 
girl's  feet  showed  the  blush  of  her  rosy  limbs. 
There  is  no  wonder  in  that,  even  if  she  had  such 
fairness  beyond  her  young  yearsmates,  since  bright 
over  her  countenance  sparkled  the  beauties  of  both 
her  parents. 

263  Then  Cypris  saw  her  :  pregnant  with  prophetic 
intelligence  she  sent  her  imagination  wandering 
swiftly  round,  and  driving  her  mind  to  wander  about 
the  whole  earth  surveyed  the  foundations  of  the 
brilliant  cities  of  ancient  days.  She  saw  how 
Mycene  girt  about  with  a  garland  of  walls  by  the 
Cyclopian  masons  took  the  name  of  twinkle-eye 
Mycene  ;  how  Thebes  beside  the  southern  Nile  took 
the  name  of  primeval  Thebe ;  and  she  decided  to 
design  a  city  named  after  Beroe,  being  possessed 
with  a  passion  to  make  her  city  as  good  as  theirs. 
She  observed  there  the  long  column  of  Solon's 
Laws,  that  safeguard  against  wrong,  and  turned 
aside  her  eye  to  the  broad  streets  of  Athens,  and 
envied  her  sister  the  just  Judge.  With  hurrying 
shoe,  she  whizzed  along  the  vault  of  heaven  to  the 
hall  of  Allmother  Harmonia,  where  that  nymph  dwelt 

215 


NONNOS 

€tK€Xov  ohcov  €vau  rvTTw  rtrpalvyt  tcoofum 
avTOTrayrj'  mou/xy  hi  Bvpai  ortfiaptHO  luXoBftm 
appay€€S  niavp€aaiv  ifiirpatBrfOiW  ai^Taif 
Kal  hofiov  IppvovTo  irtplrpoxpv  curora  r^ 

AvToXif]  Oipdiraiva  irvXy}V  n€pthdhpo§i4l^ 
/cat  X€<l>vpov  nvXMotva  Svatf,  Bpdwrttpa 
Kal  Noriov  TTVpoan-a  Mttrrjfifipiat  ff^fv  ^Xff^» 
Kal  TWKivrjv  v€<f>€€aot,  naXvfofityrp^  W  xoA&{|| 
"ApKTog  {mo6prfiar€ipa  irvXriv  ittinxaot  Bop^jof* 

Kfi^t  \dpLS  npoBopovaa,  cnW/iiropof 
Kvpov  Kwlt€  Bvp€rpov  'E<otov'  €vb6fivxot  hi 
*AvToXir)s  KpoK6€VTOi  apaooofiii'ov  wvXttmot 
dvSpap.€v  *A(rrw6fjL€ia  hiOKropo^,  lara^Urfiif  M 
KvTTpiv  iaaOprjaaaa  napd  nponvXaui  §AtXi0pO9 
TToaal  naXiwoirroiat  TTpodyY*^^  ifXtfcv  cEintfoiy||. 
7)  pikv  €'noi\opL€vr)  itoXuhaCbaXov  Urrov  *Aft}n;f 
K€pK iBi  ndnXov  v<f>aiv€V'  v^aiyofUvov  Si  Yifwof 
Trpwrqv  yalav  cTraaac  fnaofi^aXov,  Offt^  M  ya^ 
ovpavov  €G<f>aipcja€  rvntp  icc^afMyfi^ror  darpom^, 
avpL<l>€prrrjv  5c  daXaaaav  t^f^pfUHit  av^vyt  yfUfi' 
Kal  7rorap.ov£  ttoiViAAcv,  ctr*  dvhpofi4<ff  Bi 
Tavpo<f>vrfs  fi.opit>ovTo  K€paa^po^  fy^Aoof 
Kal  'TTVfiaTrjv  napd  'n€^av  ivKXaxrroio  ;((r<ii»of 
wK€av6v  kvkXiogc  7r€pibpofioy  avrvyt  KOOfWV. 
dfi(f>i7roXos  §€  ol  ^XB€  Kal  iyyvBi  di^/XiO^  laroO 
laraficvrjv  iJyyciAc  napd  npoOvpoif  *A^pMf7f9, 
Kal  ^€09,  ci?  rJKovat,  fiirov^  pUjfaaa  X}rwrt>i 
BioK^Xov  laronovwv  dn€a€iaaro  KtpK&a  X!^ipunr 
Kal  raxivf}  nvKaaaaa  Btfias  ;(ioix6^r  v4wXtp 
216 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  278-307 

in  a  house,  self-built,  shaped  like  the  great  universe 
with  its  four  quarters  joined  in  one.  Four  portals 
were  about  that  stronghold  standing  proof  against 
the  four  winds.  Handmaids  protected  this  dwelling 
on  all  sides,  a  round  image  of  the  universe  :  the 
doors  were  allotted — Antolia**  was  the  maid  who 
attended  the  East  Wind's  gate  ;  at  the  West  Wind's 
was  Dysis  the  nurse  of  Selene  ;  Mesembrias  held  the 
bolt  of  the  fiery  South  ;  Arctos  the  Bear  was  the 
servant  who  opened  the  gate  of  the  North,  thick  with 
clouds  and  sprinkled  with  hail. 

288  To  that  place  went  Charis,  fellow- voyager  with 
the  Foamborn,  and  running  ahead  she  knocked  at 
the  eastern  gate  of  Euros.  As  the  rap  came  on  the 
saffron  portal  of  sunrise,  Astynomeia  an  attendant 
ran  up  from  within  ;  and  when  she  saw  Cypris 
standing  in  front  of  the  gatehouse  of  the  dwelling, 
she  went  with  returning  feet  to  inform  her 
mistress  beforehand.  She  was  then  busy  at 
Athena's  loom,  weaving  a  patterned  cloth  with  her 
shuttle.  In  the  robe  she  was  weaving,  she  worked 
first  Earth  as  the  navel  in  the  midst ;  round  it  she 
balled  the  sky  dotted  with  the  shape  of  stars, 
and  fitted  the  sea  closely  to  the  embracing  earth ; 
she  embroidered  also  the  rivers  in  a  green  picture, 
shaped  each  with  a  human  face  and  bull's  horns  ;  and 
at  the  outer  fringe  of  the  wellspun  robe  she  made 
Ocean  run  all  round  the  world  in  a  loop.  The  maid 
came  up  to  the  woman's  loom,  and  announced  that 
Aphrodite  stood  before  the  gatehouse.  When  the 
goddess  heard,  she  dropt  the  threads  of  the  robe  and 
threw  down  the  divine  shuttle  from  her  hands  busy 
at  the  loom.     Quickly  she   WTapped  a  snow-white 

"  The  names  mean  Rising,  Setting,  She  of  Midday. 

217 


NONNOS 

Sexw^J'-^v^  Kv6€p€tav,  dvntfaoa  W  &wteov 

rrjX€<j>avfj  KvSrfi'tv  €7r(pxofi€yfp'  *A^poS^n|r.  110 

Kal  Ua<f>lrjv  TSpva€v  eVi  dpavo¥  iyyvi  ip^Urofit 

Evpwofirj  Tayvn€7rXo^'  arviofidvov  6^ 

Kvnpw  oTTiTTcuoixra  Kartf^i  fidprvpi 

iravrp6<f>o^  * \p^iovir)  ^hXuu  ^tiXifaro 

"  *Pi{a  piov,  Kv04p€ta  ^vToon6p€,  luua 
iXirU  oXov  Koa/xoio,  rtrj^  vno  vtvfian  fioMft 
d7rXav€€S  KXatdovai  noXvrpona  yrf^am  WcSpmi^  .  •  . 

"...  €ipofi€vj)  BioTTiUtt  9cai  wi  /iumNO  Ti^i(n|» 
c^  Tpo<l>6^  dOavdrwv,  w^  avyxpo^^of  rjXun  t(6ofUff, 
€i7r€*  TiVt  nroXiwv  paatXyjCbo^  opyam,  ^uMrijt 
Xvainovwv  drivatrra  i^vXdaarrtu  iJWo  StOfiA^; 
orri  noXvxpovioio  noOov  hthovrjfi^vov  olirrptft 
*Hp7^9  K^vTpov  €\ovra  Koajynjrcoi'  v^uvaiu^ 
€(f  xpovov  IpiiipoxTa  rpirjKoauiiV  ciioi/ruir 
Xrjva  ydfxoig  c^cufa*  x^^  ^  M^  d(iO¥  Jfy^t^ 
fjLiadov  €ov  OaXdfjLoio  vo-qfiotn  vtvat  KOfr^i^, 
OTTL  fiifj  TToXiojv,  cjv  cAAaxoi',  fyyifoXA^ti 
dcGfid  Ai/CT^;.     TToSiO)  5c  SavJ/ici-cu,  C4  X^oi4  K^wpov 
i}c   ria^oi  TciBc  5cupa  ^uAaaacrcu  i)<  )^jopaStfi 
ri  Undprri,  AvKoopyos  od€v  ntXtv,  ifk  Kfu  air^ 
Kovpy]S  7ip€r€pTis  ^€p6r)s  €vrjvopi  ndrpfj. 
dXXd  bltcqs  dXfyi^t  koI  dpfiovtrjv  n6p€  tcdo^u^ 
'Apfiovir)  yeyavTa  fiiooaoos'  ciy  a^  yap  a^r^ 

7T€fJUp€V    €7r€iyOfl€VrjV    fJLt 

6€p,k(rT07rokutv  rpo^of  dwhptiav, 

*  While  weaving  s»hc  no  doubt  had 
S18 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  308-334 

robe  about  her  body,^  and  brighter  than  the  gold  took 
her  place  on  her  usual  seat  to  await  Cythereia.  As 
soon  as  Aphrodite  appeared  in  the  distance,  she 
leapt  from  her  throne  to  show  due  respect.  Eury- 
nome  in  her  long  robe  led  the  Paphian  to  a  seat 
near  her  mistress  ;  Harmonia  the  Nurse  of  the 
world  saw  the  looks  and  dejected  bearing  of  Cypris 
that  showed  her  distress,  and  comforted  her  in 
friendly  tones  : 

315  "  Cythereia,  root  of  life,  seedsower  of  being, 
midwife  of  nature,  hope  of  the  whole  universe,  at  the 
bidding  of  your  will  the  unbending  Fates  do  spin 
their  complicated  threads  !     [Tell  me  your  trouble."] 

31^  [She  replied]  :  **  .  .  .  Reveal  to  your  questioner, 
and  tell  me,  as  nourisher  of  life,  nurse  of  immortals, 
as  coeval  with  the  universe  your  agemate  ;  which  of 
the  cities  has  the  organ  of  sovereign  voice  ?  which  has 
reserved  for  it  the  unshaken  reins  of  troublesolving 
Law  ?  I  joined  Zeus  in  wedlock  with  Hera  his  sister, 
after  he  had  felt  the  pangs  of  longlasting  desire  and 
desired  her  for  three  hundred  years  :  in  gratitude  he 
bowed  his  wise  head,  and  promised  as  a  worthy 
reward  for  the  marriage  that  he  would  commit  the 
precepts  of  Justice  to  one  of  the  cities  allotted 
to  me.  I  wish  to  learn  whether  the  gift  is 
reserved  for  land  of  Cyprus  or  Paphos  or  Corinth, 
or  Sparta  whence  Lycurgos  came,  or  the  noble- 
men's country  of  my  own  daughter  Beroe.  Have 
a  care  then  for  Justice,  and  grant  harmony  to 
the  world,  you  who  are  Harmonia  the  saviour  of 
life  !  For  I  was  sent  here  in  haste  by  the  Virgin 
of  the  Stars  herself,  the  nurse  of  law-abiding  men  ; 

5iT(ovLov,    like  the   housewife   in    Theocritos    xv.    31  ;    she 
resses  more  formally  to  receive  her  visitor. 

219 


sossos 

UapSevo^  aartpotaaa-  to  hi  nXio¥  hfvoftot 

"Q?  <l>afi€vrjv  Bapawt  BtA  Koi  d^ifitro  iM^' 
*'  rivco  OapaaXif),  fitj  SctSi^i,  firjrtp  *¥pmnmr 
iTrrd  yap  cV  Trimxcaatv  €x<*t  fuufrqui  attfoyiov* 
Kal  TTwaK€^  ycyaaaiv  iitwwfUH  iwrd  «ABn|f«r« 
rrpwros  €vrpoxdXoio  ^Kpww^io^  ian  2IcAifri|f* 
hevrepos  *Kpfi€iao  niva(  xpvatiof  cutotftt 
GTiX^v,  at  €Vi  trdyra  rtrfvxartu  dpyta  $^i9lfAr 
ovvofia  GOV  fic^cVci  po5o<tf  rpiro^'  6fi€Tif09  ydi^ 
dcnipos  *Ha>o(o  4>€p€i  rvnov  €7rraw6put¥  M 
r€rpaT09  *HcAioio  ^aofi^aXo^  iar%  vAomffwr* 
Trc/xTrTos"  €p€v6i6<jjv  nvpotis:  xucX^icmu  'Afnft* 
Kal  ^a€Ou}v  }^pov!hao  ^ri^tnu  iicrof  <SAi4nK* 
€pSofios  xnltmopoio  l^povov  irtXtv  otVofia  ^oiMtfr. 
rots  €Vi  TToiKiXa  ndm^  fitfiopfUva  B4o^m  mdofum 
ypdjifiari.  <f>oiviK6€in'i  y4pwv  ix9^*^^  *0^^air. 
oAA*,  eVci  IBvvooiv  fi€  5t<^ai  tUtKa  $€msw¥, 
nptaptrreprj  ttoXiwv  np^afiriia  Tavra  ^uXioow 
eiT*  ovv    ApKabiT)  TrpoTtprj  ntXtv  ff  ndXif  'Hpffft, 
T,dpSi€S  €t  ycyaaat  iiaXalT€pai,  tl  hk  «rcu  ojMi 
Tapaog  d€idop,€V7)  TrporroTrroXL^,  €i  5/  rtf  d[AAi|, 
ovK  iSdrjv  Kpovio^  hi  irivaf  rdS€  murra  hMmtm^ 
TtV  nporipr)  pXdcrrqa€, 

TiV  cttActo  (Tvyxpovof  *\\oik." 
EfTTc*  Kal  riy€fi6v€V€v  cV  dyXad  Bio^ra  roixQ^» 
€Ig6k€v  €hpaK€  x^P^^»  ^^  Bcpoi^S"  iff^  wdtff^ft 
BiG^TOV  O^lTcA^OTOV   *0<f>iovl'q  Ypdi^   '''^10^ 
iv  nlvaKi  Kpovio)  Kcxapayfitx-ov  otvom  fuAnp* 
"  np<j}To<l)avrjs  Bcporj  ttcAc  GvyXP^*'^  rpiun  KdoiJUp, 

220 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  335-364, 

and  what  is  more,  law-loving  Hermes  has  passed  on 
this  honour  to  me,  that  I  alone  by  enforcing  the 
laws  of  marriage  may  preserve  the  men  whom  I 
have  sown." 

338  To  these  words  of  hers  the  goddess  replied 
with  an  encouraging  speech  : 

339  "  Beof  good  cheer,  fear  not,  mother  of  the  Loves! 
For  I  have  oracles  of  history  on  seven  tablets,  and  the 
tablets  bear  the  names  of  the  seven  planets.  The  first 
has  the  name  of  revolving  Selene ;  the  second  is  called 
of  Hermes,  a  shining  <*  tablet  of  gold,  upon  which  are 
wrought  all  the  secrets  of  law  ;  the  third  has  your 
name,  a  rosy  tablet,  for  it  has  the  shape  of  your  star 
in  the  East ;  the  fourth  is  of  Helios,  central  navel 
of  the  seven  travelUng  planets  ;  the  fifth  is  called 
Ares,  red  and  fiery  ;  the  sixth  is  called  Phaethon,^  the 
planet  of  Cronides  ;  the  seventh  shows  the  name  of 
highmoving  Cronos.  Upon  these,  ancient  Ophion  '^  has 
engraved  in  red  letters  all  the  divers  oracles  of  fate  for 
the  universe.  But  since  you  ask  me  about  the  direct- 
ing laws,  this  prerogative  I  keep  for  the  eldest  of  cities. 
Whether  then  Arcadia  is  first  or  Hera's  city,**  whether 
Sardis  be  the  oldest,  or  even  Tarsos  celebrated  in  song 
be  the  first  city,  or  some  other,  I  have  not  been  told. 
The  tablet  of  Cronos  will  teach  you  all  this,  which 
first  arose,  which  was  coeval  with  Dawn." 

360  She  spoke  ;  and  led  the  way  to  the  glorious 
oracles  of  the  wall,  until  she  saw  the  place  where 
Ophion's  art  had  engraved  in  ruddy  vermilion  on  the 
tablet  of  Cronos  the  oracle  to  be  fulfilled  in  time  about 
Beroe's  country.     "  Beroe  came  the  first,  coeval  with 

"  tjTiAjSaiv,  an  older  name  for  the  planet  Mercury. 

''  The  planet  Jupiter. 

«  Cf.  ii.  573.  "  Argos. 

221 


NONNOS 

vUcg  Avaoviwv,  vnanjia  ^yyta  'Pwfiff^. 
Ji7jpuT6vKaX€aovau',€7r€i  Aifiat^nMOtytirww,  .  .  . 
rotov  €7Tos  htbdrjKt  Otonpcmw,    oAA'  ifft  lal/Mm^ 
6€aK€Xov  Iphoyidrov  mi-attof  trapcfi/rpc«r  ifiX^» 
S€VT€pov  ca/coTriaffv,  oTrj)  napa  yciTOM  Toix^  T10 

noiKiXa  natrroirji  €xapaaa€To  hathaXa  f4jff^ 
fiavTirroXoi^  indtaaiy,  on  npamara  ¥9^9m 
ndv  vofttoy  avptyya,  Xvprjv  *EXiKu>vu>f  'Efift^, 
hidpoov  aPpos  VCayyis  ivrprfrov  ^UXtH  aMo6» 
*Op<f>€vs  fivoTinoXoio  $€rjY6pa  xtvitara  §whHfit      fit 
Kal  A1W9  €V€mrjv  Ooi/Jt/coj,  *Apt(af  oAi^nfr 
p,€Tpa  bvcj^Kcifiriva  Kal  *ll<AiOio  iroptiij^, 
fir)T€pa  rucroyxvwv  vriatv  rtrpdlvyi  hi^pt^^^ 
Kox  ao<l>6s  *E»^u/xuiiv  irtporpana  hatcrvX^  K^fK^m 
yvwaerai  dorara  tcvK\a  naXii'v6aTOio  £cAi{n|f         ft$ 
rpiTiXoa,  Kal  aToix€lov  ofio^vyov  d^vyi  §il(a$ 
Kdhfios  €uyX(x}aaou>  BiBd((rai  opyuM.  ^uMnjf, 


*  Something  has  fallen  out  cxpUlniiif  the  name  I 
local  legend. 

*  Another  list  of  "  inventors**  see  noCr  <m  %L  SIOl 
'  Alluding  to  the  (late)  theory  that  the  tvdTe 

the  chariot  race  refer  to  the  twelve  mootlia.     Here 
not  Erichthonios,  invents  chariots. 

'  This  does  not  mean  that  Endjmkm  (ratfcMMttnd  Imm 
into  an  astronomer  w  ho  calculated  the  times  of  the  mtMm% 

Ehases)  was  so  had  an  arithmetician  that  be  had  lo  OOHlt  «l 
is  fingers,  as  our  children  do.  The  andcnts  of  flOWH  katm 
of  this  primitive  method  of  reckoning,  e/.  Ds.-ArM.  Frwk  vr» 
S,  p.  910  b  23  ff.,  and  the  verb  »«^«ra{«v,  Iwt,  ovtoc  lo 
82S 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  365-382 

the  universe  her  agemate,  bearing  the  name  of  the 
nymph  later  born,  which  the  colonizing  sons  of  the 
Ausonians,  the  consular  Hghts  of  Rome,  shall  call 
Berytos,  since  here  fell  a  neighbour  to  Lebanon.  .  .  ."  « 
^^  Such  was  the  word  of  prophecy  that  she  learnt. 
But  when  the  deity  had  scanned  the  prophetic  begin- 
ning of  the  seventh  tablet,  she  looked  at  the  second, 
where  on  the  neighbouring  wall  many  strange  signs 
were  engraved  with  varied  art  in  oracular  speech  : 
how  first  ^  shepherd  Pan  will  invent  the  syrinx,  Heli- 
conian Hermes  the  harp,  tender  Hyagnis  the  music  of 
the  double  pipes  with  their  clever  holes,  Orpheus  the 
streams  of  mystic  song  with  divine  voice,  Apollo's 
Linos  eloquent  speech  ;  how  Areas  the  traveller  will 
find  out  the  measures  of  the  twelve  months,  and  the 
sun's  circuit  which  is  the  mother  of  the  years  brought 
forth  by  his  fourhorse  team  ^ ;  how  wise  Endymion 
with  changing  bends  of  his  fingers  <*  will  calculate  the 
three  varying  phases  of  Selene  ;  how  Cadmos  will 
combine  consonant  with  vowel  and  teach  the  secrets 

the  clumsiness  of  their  written  figures,  they  found  it  con- 
venient to  have  a  number  of  conventional  gestures  with  the 
fingers  to  signify  numerals  for  purposes  of  calculation.  A 
rough  method,  of  which  no  details  are  known,  is  mentioned" 
by  Ar.  Wasps  656,  but  long  before  Nonnos's  day  (see 
Juvenal  x.  249  and  Mayor  ad  loc.)  a  kind  of  arithmetical 
deaf-and-dumb  alphabet  had  been  invented,  details  of  which 
are  preserved  by  the  Venerable  Bede,  in  the  section  De  ratione 
computandi  at  the  beginning  of  his  w  ork  De  temporum  ratione 
(printed,  beside  the  editions  of  Bede,  in  Graevius,  Thesaurus 
xi.  1699  ff.  and  C.  Sittl,  Gebarde  der  Griechen  und  Riimer^ 
pp.  256  ff.).  By  this,  the  fingers  of  the  left  hand  alone  can 
express  numbers  from  1  to  99,  those  of  the  right,  100-10,000, 
while  by  holding  the  hands  against  various  parts  of  the  body, 
higher  numbers  up  to  1,000,000  can  be  indicated.  See  also 
G.  Loria,  Le  Scienze  esatte  nelV  antica  Grecian  743-747,  and 
Sir  T.  L.  Heath,  Hist,  of  Greek  Maths,  i.  26-27 ;  ii.  550-552. 

223 


NONNOS 

Gv(,tryirj^  dXuroio  amtjptda  Si^vya  K<«rpo^. 
Kal  \\aif>irj  fi€ra  ndiTa  noXvrpona  haibaX^  ' 
iwKva  TToXvcmptoJV  irap€fi4rp€€V  €pya 
Kal  irivaKO^  ypaTrroio  fi4<rrjv  vnip  drrvya 

TOloV   €T70S   GfxftOV   €Vp€    ttoXvOnXO^  *EMd8l    MorfvO' 

**  'Licfjirrpov  oAiyy  Airyovorot  ^ 

'Pu)fir)  /xcv  iaOtTj  hutpi^trai  Ada6¥UH  Ziif 
Koipavlr)v,  l^poT)  Si  ;(afK{<T(u  ^ria  0ta|i^« 
oTTTTOTc  0wpr)x^4taa  ^nptaxnutc4ta¥  hA  riffir 
^uAoTTii'  vYpop.6dou>  Kartw^ftm  KXtomdrfmi' 
TTptv  yap  araadaXii)  noXinopBuft  o^  voTf  kffm 
fipi^vrjv  KXoi'*otMja  aaoirroXuf,  ay|M  hufd(/n 
li-qpvro^  pioTOio  yaXrfvaiOiO  TtBijini 
yalav  6p.ov  Kal  tto^tov,  ojroiiWt  Tfiycf 
aoTca  TTvpyioaaaa,  fiia  irroMf  dima 

Kal  e€6^,  oTnroTc  naaay  'O^iov^  |liiir  ^^iji, 
€19  iov  oIkov  (Pant  iraXtv&pouof  /{oii^POV  M 

fcat  fUaov  dyKOLf  tXovaa  yaXrivtMjaim  wpoomw^ 
TT€7rrap,€vu)  nrjxwt  yty^Oori  Kovpo¥  iyoat^, 
yovvaai  KOvif>i^ovaa  ^iXov  fidpof'  i^a^^rtpO¥  M 
Kal  arofia  naihos  (Kvaat  Kal  opfiara*  ^tXftv^om  S^ 


•  The  Phoenician   dphahH.  vhich  the  Greeks 
(traditionally  throufrh   C'ailnMM).  had   »iglM  fa 
only  ;    the  brilliant  Grrrk   innovatioo  waa  lo 
these  signs  which   rrprcsentrd  oootooanta 
exist  in  Greek,  for  voweU.     lliey  that 
complete  alphalx-t  of  human  htvtory. 

*  The  list  rationalizes:   F.ndymion,  beiorrd  of  the  MooM, 
becomes  a  skilful  a«»tronomrr,  and  the  tary- 
S34 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  383-405 

of  correct  speech  °  ;  how  Solon  will  invent  inviolable 
laws,  and  Cecrops  the  union  of  two  yoked  together 
under  the  sacred  yoke  of  marriage  made  lawful  with 
the  Attic  torch. ^ 

3^  Now  the  Paphian,  after  all  these  manifold 
wonders  of  the  Muse,  scanned  the  various  deeds  of 
the  scattered  cities  ;  and  on  the  written  tablet  which 
lay  in  the  midst  on  the  circuit  of  the  universe,  she 
found  these  words  of  wisdom  inscribed  in  many  lines 
of  Grecian  verse  : 

^^  **  When  Augustus  shall  hold  the  sceptre  of  the 
world,  Ausonian  Zeus  will  give  to  divine  Rome  the 
lordship,  and  to  Beroe  he  will  grant  the  reins  of  law, 
when  armed  in  her  fleet  of  shielded  ships  she  shall 
pacify  the  strife  of  battlestirring  Cleopatra.  For 
before  that,  citysacking  violence  will  never  cease  to 
shake  citysaving  peace,  until  Berytos  the  nurse  of 
quiet  life  does  justice  on  land  and  sea,  fortifying  the 
cities  with  the  unshakable  wall  of  law,  one  city  for 
all  cities  of  the  world."  ^ 

^^  Then  the  goddess,  having  learnt  all  the  oracles 
of  Ophion,  returned  to  her  own  house.  She  placed  her 
own  goldwrought  throne  beside  the  place  where  her 
son  sat,  and  throwing  an  arm  round  his  waist,  with 
quiet  countenance  opened  her  glad  arms  to  receive 
the  boy  and  held  the  dear  burden  on  her  knees  ;  she 
kissed  both  his   lips   and   eyes,  touched  his  mind- 

(c/.  59)  is  the  person  who  first  united  the  two  contrasting 
natures  of  man  and  woman  in  a  durable  union.  To  do 
Nonnos  justice,  he  did  not  originate  these  sillinesses. 

*^  Ber3rtos  was  destroyed  by  Tryphon  in  140  b.c.  in  his 
rivalry  with  Antiochos  VII.  It  recovered,  became  a  town 
of  the  Roman  Empire,  and  was  renowned  for  its  schools, 
especially  of  law.  Octavian  (afterwards  Augustus)  defeated 
Cleopatra  at  Actium  in  31  b.c. 

VOL.  Ill  Q  225 


NONNOS 

aTrrofianrj  rofoio  teal  afi^^oatoa 

old  n€p  dax^^^'^*^'^^'^*  hitXo^potn  f^jj^airo 

vriKiiris  tfia  rcVtv  fiitfoaro  lioOva  KpoUm*' 
€wia  yap  nXi^aaa  fioyoarotca  miteXa  T/tkfjl^        ilti 
hpifiv  P^Xo^  fi€6J'rrovaa  ivffmMot  rottrrA 
'ApfAovirjv  cAoycMm,  teai  oAyva  woueiXa  w4t9j(n 
axyvyiivT)'  Kovprjv  hi  fioyoartfffor  Ma^  Aipt», 

r€Kvov  *Afivfiwvrf^  ofAaydarpio^,  oC  Of  hMfm^        4|A 
u)S  Xdxov  c(  aXof  atfia  kqI  alBipof  <LUA  TiAiooai 
iJf^cAov  diiov  €pyov,  oirctfc  vapa  fnp*^  HalUggj 
ovpav66€v  ytyama  koX  oCpavov  ht  x^oi4  V^f*^* 
oAAd  Kaaiyi'Tirr^  iitl  icaXXti  otio  . 
^cAyc  ^covf,  «rcu  fioAAor  Zcior  /M^  clr  Ip4 
TrcftTTc  no<7€t5ao>^  «rcu  ci/Air«A<WvTt  Ami!^, 
dp4>or€poi^  patcdp€aow  iyw  hi  ooc  ^fiA 
hwpov  €KripoXir)s  irrtoucora  fAioBov  Sm49t 
hwaw  aoi  xpvoeriv  yofurfv  x^Avr,  ^  wm^ 
'Apfiovij)  n6p€  <I>ot^o9,  iyu»  h4  ow  iyymJUfm 
daT€os  €Gaofi€vov  funrffiT^uMt,  ^^P^  WO^  tCipr 
fcoi  /i€To  To(€vrfjpa  Xvpoimiwof, 

<o9  ircp  'Aw^AAcdT. 


2S6 


DIONYSIACA,  XLI.  406-427 

bewitching  bow  and  fingered  the  quiver,  and  spoke 
in  feigned  anger  these  cunning  words  : 

408  *'  You  hope  of  all  life  !  You  cajoler  of  the 
Foamborn  !  Cronion  is  a  cruel  tyrant  to  my  children 
alone  !  After  nine  full  months  of  hard  travail  I 
brought  forth  Harmonia,  suffering  the  bitter  pangs  of 
painful  childbirth  ;  and  now  she  suffers  all  sorts  of 
grief  and  tribulation.  But  Leto  has  borne  Artemis 
Eileithyia,  the  Lady  of  Travail,  the  ally  of  woman- 
kind. You  Amymone's**  brother,  son  of  the  same 
mother,  need  not  to  be  told  how  I  got  my  blood  from 
brine  and  ether  ;  but  I  would  perform  a  worthy  deed, 
and  being  born  of  heaven,  I  will  plant  heaven  on 
earth  beside  the  sea  my  mother.  Come  then — for 
your  sister's  beauty  draw  your  bow  ^  and  bewitch  the 
gods,  or  say,  shoot  one  shaft  and  hit  with  the  same 
shot  Poseidon  and  vinegod  Lyaios,  Blessed  Ones 
both.  I  will  give  you  a  gift  for  your  long  shot 
which  will  be  a  proper  wage  worthy  of  your  feat 
— I  will  give  you  the  marriage  harp  of  gold,  which 
Phoibos  gave  to  Harmonia  at  the  door  of  the  bridal 
chamber  ;  I  will  place  it  in  your  hands  in  memory 
of  a  city  to  be,  that  you  may  be  not  only  an  archer, 
but  a  harpist,  just  like  Apollo." 

"  Otherwise  unknown,  not  daughter  of  Danaos. 
'  A  line  has  fallen  out  paraphrasing  the  word  "  bow." 


AIONTLIAKHN  TESSA PAKOCTON 
AEITETON 

TcaaopaKooToi'  v^va  to  htvrtpav,  ^  XByubm 
hoKXov  TipTTvov  cporTa  Kcu  ifL4pO¥  jvifootyniom, 

*ils  <t>afjL€vrj  nap€7r€ia€'  fMraxpoi^  M  mMkf 

viliw€<fyqs  7rr€p6€VTi  tcar^ypaipev  i^/M  rapow, 

fi€iXixiov  nXrjdovoa  rrvpo^  #c€xaAaoTO  ^aph'afti.        • 
CO?  5*  OTTOT*  dio^c^'Aoco  $4*  aldioo^  ofuf  Mrffi 
iKrahlco  GTnvBrjpi  riracWrou  opSio^  dar^, 
rj  arpari'^  noXefioio  <f>€pwv  T^pa;  17  tivi  MuPriy, 
alBipos  €'ypa<f>€  vanov  omaBvbUp  wp6t  6Xic^' 
a>9  TOT€  ^oupos*  'Epws  'n€^pttjfjJvo9  6(di  foi^,      10 
TToXXofievajv  Trrepvywv  avtfiwSta  fi6fifio¥  tAXXui¥, 
rj€p6d€v  poi^Tja€'  Kal  *\aavplji  irapa  v^pjj 
€fi7rvpa  hiaaa  jSc'Ac/xwi  ^1117  (vvataaro  V€vpfi, 
rrapdeviKTJg  xrn    ipcjTog  opouov  €tV  n6$0¥  tXiCtmf 
bix^ahCovs  fiyr^<rrfjpa^  ofio^T^Xwv  vptvaiwv,  1ft 

halfiova  j3oT/^uoc^Ta  Kal  Tjvio)(rja  SaXiatrrjt. 

Trjfios  6  fi€v  paSv  KVfia  Xincjv  dAiVCirovtx  Sp§unf, 
OS  §€  Tvpov  fi€Ta  ntiav,  €<rw  Aifiavou>  tcofnmw^ 
rjvT€ov  €19  eva  ;(a>/>oc.     dno  pXoavpoio  bi  oi^pov 
TTophaXw  ISpvjovTa  ^Idpojv  oveAi^ac  AcTraSKur^  SO 

228 


BOOK  XLII 

The  forty-second  web  I  have  woven,  where  I  cele- 

ilightful  love  of  Baccho 

desire  of  Earthshaker. 


brate  a  delightful  love  of  Bacchos  and  the 


He  obeyed  her  request ;  treading  on  Time's  heels 
hot  Love  swiftly  sped,  plying  his  feet  into  the  wind, 
high  in  the  clouds  scoring  the  air  with  winged  step, 
and  carried  his  flaming  bow  ;  the  quiver  too,  filled 
with  gentle  fire,  hung  down  over  his  shoulder.  As 
when  a  star  stretches  straight  with  a  long  trail  of 
sparks,  a  swift  traveller  through  the  unclouded  sky, 
bringing  a  portent  for  a  warhost  or  some  sailor  man, 
and  streaks  the  back  of  the  upper  air  with  a  wake  of 
fire — so  went  furious  Eros  in  a  swift  rush,  and  his  wings 
beat  the  air  with  a  sharp  whirring  sound  that  whistled 
down  from  the  sky.  Then  near  the  Assyrian  rock  he 
united  two  fiery  arrows  on  one  string,  to  bring  two 
wooers  into  like  desire  for  the  love  of  a  maid,  rivals 
for  one  bride,  the  vinegod  and  the  ruler  of  the  sea. 

17  Meanwhile  one  came  from  the  deep  waters  of  the 
sea-neighbouring  roadstead,  and  one  left  the  land  of 
Tyre,  and  among  the  mountains  of  Lebanon  the  two 
met  in  one  place.  Maron  loosed  the  panther  sweating 
from  the  yoke  of  his  awful  car,  and  brushed  off  the  dust 

229 


NONNOS 

Kai  Koviv  cfcTivofc  #fa4  ttcXvatv  voart  wrn^ 

€y6a  fxoXcjv  dxixrp'o^  'Hpcof  €tri  >^iTO»«  ff^^n 
SoifLOvas  dfjufxrrtpovs  Si&vfAaon  paXXtP  itor^, 
paKX€vaas  Aiowaov  avtcv  ir«i^ifX«a  ril|i^||, 
€v^po(Tvv7)v  BioToio  fcoi  om>ira  p6rpu¥  iwm^ 
oiarpriaa^  h    cV  tporra  Kvfitpvrfrijpa  rpmbnfg 
hi-rrXoov  Ihvov  €  parrot  dytiv  oAiytiron  «roiljp||, 
»MUfui;(OP  vy/Mi'  "Aprna  Kal  oZcUa  Scivra  tpoWCifr* 
#cat  TrA^ot'  c^cyc  liajrvot',  ^irci  »oor  obof  ^^i*   ^ 
€19  nodov,  dnXoTtpcjv  ci  iroXv  itXio¥  iApom  nA^rpy 
dtXyop^yrfv  dx^Xi^'oy  f^cuv  frci^i/vuN^  vrV 

c^cyc  S*,  oaaoi'  tStXyfv  ttnarafat  fUAi  mMtBo^t* 
dfJL^OT^pov^  5*  olarpr^at'  hi    al0€pirfs  S^  ir«Afi{0W   I 
icvicAcoaa;  fiaXioiaiv  ofioSpofiov  tyitx  <ii(raif 
vTjxofieva)  voBo^  opvi^  dvTfiopfjTO  nghiXtft, 
rolov  €nos  poowv  ^tAoir€pro/iov*  "  oWpac  oiMp 
€i  kXov4€1  Aiowoo^,  /yai  Trvpc  Boic;^!'  dpow.  ' 
Kai  0eo9  d/xTTcAoci?  dtacurriov  o/i^  nroiauir 
dPpov  (vnXoKapLoio  h4p.a^  hi€pArp€€  rvft^ffff, 
BdfiPog  €xoiv  oxtrriyov  cV  lp.€pov  a/nroftipmr  M 
6<f>6aXp.6s  iTpoK€X€vBos  tyivtro  nopBfiOf  *Kptifrat¥. 
nXd^ero  fi€v  Aiowoo^  €aw  rtpt/tu^povof  vXtff. 
Xddpio^  €19  ScpoTjv  ir€<f>vXayp,€vov  ofcfia  nrarnvr, 
Kat  Kara  Paiov  dntoB^v  cV  drpanov  i^  tcovpnnf 
ovSc  ol  €taop6wyTi  Kopos  ntXtv  urrtuUrffif  yip 
iraodevov  oaaov  oTrowre,  roaov  nXdo¥  rjfitXi  Xtioa^w, 
Kai  KXvp,€vr)g  <f>iX<ynjTo^  dvofun^oai  wo6fiO¥  ^vrpam 
'HcAtov  Xirdv€V€v,  dniaBoTovurv  M,  oi^ptm^ 
aidepup  ararov  Imrov  dvcuT^yyoyra  YoAuf^ 
firjKW€iv  yXvKv  4>^yyos,  Iva  ppaSvs  €is  ^6ow  iX0ff 
230 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  21-52 

and  swilled  the  beasts  with  water  of  the  fountain,  cool- 
ing their  hot  scarred  necks.  Then  Eros  came  quickly 
up  to  the  maiden  hard  by,  and  struck  both  divinities 
with  two  arrows.  He  maddened  Dionysos  to  offer  his 
treasures  to  the  bride,  life's  merry  heart  and  the  ruddy 
vintage  of  the  grape  ;  he  goaded  to  love  the  lord  of 
the  trident,  that  he  might  bring  the  sea-neighbouring 
maid  a  double  lovegift,  seafaring  battle  on  the  water 
and  varied  dishes  for  the  table.  He  set  Bacchos 
more  in  a  flame,  since  wine  excites  the  mind  for 
desire,  and  wine  finds  unbridled  youth  much  more 
obedient  to  the  rein  when  it  is  charmed  with  the 
prick  of  unreason ;  so  he  shot  Bacchos  and  drove 
the  whole  shaft  into  his  heart,  and  Bacchos  burnt, 
as  much  as  he  was  charmed  by  the  trickling  honey 
of  persuasion.  Thus  he  maddened  them  both  ;  and 
in  the  counterfeit  shape  of  a  bird  circling  his  tracks 
in  the  airy  road  as  swift  as  the  rapid  winds,  he  rose 
with  paddling  feet,  and  cried  these  taunting  words  : 
"  If  Dionysos  confounds  men  with  wine,  I  excite 
Bacchos  with  fire  !  " 

*^  The  vinegod  turned  his  eye  to  look,  and  scanned 
the  tender  body  of  the  longhaired  maiden,  full  of 
admiration  the  conduit  of  desire  ;  his  eye  led  the  way 
and  ferried  the  newborn  love.  Dionysos  wandered 
in  that  heartrejoicing  wood,  secretly  fixing  his 
careful  gaze  on  Beroe,  and  followed  the  girl's  path 
a  little  behind.  He  could  not  have  enough  of  his 
gazing  ;  for  the  more  he  beheld  the  maid  standing 
there,  the  more  he  wanted  to  watch.  He  called  to 
Helios,  reminding  the  chief  of  stars  of  his  love  for 
Clymene,  and  prayed  him  to  hold  back  his  car  and 
check  the  stalled  horses  with  the  heavenly  bit,  that 
he  might  prolong  the  sweet  light,  that  he  might  go 

231 


NONNOS 

Kal  Bf/Kwy?  fitrprjSoy  in    ixyttnw  ixn>f  4|pi 
otdt  TTcp  ayvtjjaawv,  Tttpihthpoiuv'  itc  Atfidro^  M 
oKvaXeov  ttoSo^  ix^'o^  vnoKXdnrutv  ivooi^fBtm 
€vrpoTraXit,oyi€vw  ppahvn€iB4i  ya(rro  mpo^, 
Kol  voov  aarripiKrov  o^iouov  ciW  BaXia^f 
KVfiaai  Tra^a^oiTa  iroXu^Xoiapoto  luplwnit. 

Kat  yXvK€prj^  a»c6fnfTtii  iaw  Aifiiuniiai  Ai|r 
olwBr)  Aiowaos  tprmaifi  nap^  vfifa^, 
oIwBt)  Aioyvao^.    *Op€ta&cf  ciirarc  N 
rt  ttAcW  i^^cAcv  oAAo  ^HXalrtoo^,  ij  XP'^ 
fiovvos  ih^lv  hva4porro^  iktVQ^po^  iwoawaiomf         ^ 
Vat  Kv<r€  vT)pidfioiai  ^cAv)/iaai  XdBmog  iffmt0  ^^ 

XtopoVf  oTrrj  noSa  Otjk€,  k€u  ^  /warmM  «e 
irapdeviKTi  poS6€VTi  Karavydiovaa  Wfofty 
Kal  yXvKvv  au;(^Ki   ^dxxos  Mptetro, 

NtM  o^vpn  m9ffms 
viGGOfianrj^  Kal  koXXo^,  o  irtp  ^tVn;  umao€  mm^^  H 
/coAAo?,  o  TTcp  ^uai9  €J^/>c  *  Koi  ov  (a»S^)(poi  ffOOfi^ 
Xpiaafi€vrj  Beporj  poSo€iS4a  tcvKXa  npoowwov 
^cuSo/xcVas'  €pvOrjv€  voOat  anii'Orjpi  wap€t/ds, 
ov  XP^^  avT iTvnou)  Siavyu  fidprvpi  j^oXk^ 
fUfiTjXrjs  iyeXaaaev  cy  dnvoov  €1^  omwvijt  to 

KoXXos  iov  Kpivovaa,  koX  ov  rc;^vi}/ion  O^q^um 
TToXXaKi^  lad^ovaa  irap*  o^pvow  atcpa  icoyM^apr 
7rXalop.€yr]s  €OT7ja€  p^n^vSa  fi6rrov¥  iB^tfnfg, 
dXXd  yvvaifiai'€oyTa  noXv  trXtov  of/i  tchrtp^ 
dyXatai  KXovdovaw  aKrfh^aroio  npoaurwov,  ift 

Kal  TrXoKafioi  pvn6win'€^  dKoofi-qroio  tcamnu 
dpporepoi  ycyaoaiv,  or*  dnX€K^€9  Koi  dX^frai 
Xtov€a»  GTLxocjm.  napi^poi  dfi^  irpoawntp. 

Kat  rroT€  Bu/nj<maa  furdarixt  yctroro  wify/j^. 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  53-89 

slow  to  his  setting  and  with  sparing  whip  increase  the 
day  to  shine  again.  Pressing  measured  step  by  step  in 
Beroe's  tracks  the  god  passed  round  her  as  if  noticing 
nothing  ;  while  Earthshaker  stole  from  Lebanon  with 
hngering  feet,  and  departed  with  steps  slow  to  obey, 
turning  again  and  again,  his  mind  shifting  like  the 
sea  and  rippHng  with  billows  of  ever-murmuring  care. 

60  Unsated,  in  the  delicious  forests  of  Lebanon, 
Dionysos  was  left  alone  beside  the  lonely  girl. 
Dionysos  was  left  alone  !  Tell  me,  Oreiad  Nymphs, 
what  could  he  wish  for  more  lovely  than  to  see  the 
maiden's  flesh,  alone,  and  free  from  lovesick  Earth- 
shaker  ?  He  kissed  with  a  million  kisses  the  place 
where  she  set  her  foot,  creeping  up  secretly,  and 
kissed  the  dust  where  the  maiden  had  trod  making 
it  bright  with  her  shoes  of  roses.  Bacchos  watched 
the  girl's  sweet  neck,  her  ankles  as  she  walked, 
beauty  which  nature  had  given  her,  the  beauty 
which  nature  had  made  :  for  no  ruddy  ornament  for 
the  skin  had  Beroe  smeared  on  her  round  rosy  face, 
no  meretricious  rouge  put  a  false  blush  on  her  cheeks. 
She  consulted  no  shining  mirror  of  bronze  with  its 
reflection  a  witness  of  her  looks,  she  laughed  at  no 
lifeless  form  of  a  mimic  face  to  estimate  her  beauty, 
she  was  not  for  ever  arranging  the  curls  over  her 
brows,  and  setting  in  place  some  stray  wandering  lock 
of  hair  by  her  eyebrows  with  cunning  touch.  But  the 
natural  beauties  of  a  face  confound  the  desperate 
lover  with  far  sharper  sting,  and  the  untidy  tresses 
of  an  unbedizened  head  are  all  the  more  dainty,  when 
they  stray  unbraided  down  the  sides  of  a  snow-white 
face. 

^*  Sometimes  athirst  when  beaten  by  the  heat  of 

1  See  below,  p.  246,  for  lines  65-70. 

233 


NONNOS 

ovpaviov  irvpoevTO^  IfiaaaofUvfj  KiM^  ^tyiq^, 
X^iXfai  KapxaXtoiot'  KadtXxofi/vtft  M  ira^ifpy 
KdfjLTrrero  KVfnioBtlaa^  «ra4  c«V  trr6fia  noXXita 
;^€p<7i  paSvyofi€i'jjoiy  apvtro  ndrpuf¥  Siotp^ 
o-xpi'  Kop€aaafi€^'Tf  AiVc  rofiara*  yi{o|iAn|f  B4 
lfi€f>Tij  Sioyvoos  vnoKXii-at  ydi-w  vif)^  M 

KotAatVcui/  TraXdfia^  tparrjv  fHfArfoaro  ffO^MT^ 
v€Krapos  avTox^Toio  nioiv  yXvtttpoimpm^  90m^, 
Kal  fiiv  iaaBpTiaaaa  noOov  &c5otn)/i/Hir  o&Ff|py 
TrqyaiT]  PaBvtcoXnoi  dadftfiaXof  uij(^  Nif^ii^* 
"  H^vxpov  vSwp,  Aioyvat,  ^TTjv  nUt* 

ov  bvtmrai  y^  M9 
aPiaaai  Sultav  ipurro^  oXoi  pooi  'Qiriomo. 
€lp€o  GOV  y€V€Trjv,  ore  rnXufov  otSfia  wtpif^aof 

WpL^ioS    l^VpiOTTT]^    OVK    €Op€afV    IfUp^fV   V^, 

oAA*  cri  fidXXov  €Kap,vtv  <V  uSaau'*  trYpom6pim  hi 
pAprvpa  Xdrpiv  "Epatro^  <X'*^  'AA^»^  ^Al^nfr^      lOt 
OTTi  rooois  poBioiGi  hC  vharo^  uSara  (nljpcgr 
ou  ^vy€  d€pfi6v  €p<vTa,  Kal  ct  ir^v  vypif  Mrffi'* 

*Q?  <fKLfi€vr)  THTyauM'  tbvaaro  <rvyxpoo¥  Shmp 
Nrjidg  dKpi]S€fJLvo^  cVcyyeAooKm  Aimu^. 
fcat  ^€o?  vypoyL€ho\Ti  \\oa€ihda»\t.  luyaiptgi^  110 

€?;(€  <f>6pov  Kal  Cv^ov,  cVci  rru  napB^vof  ^Bttp 
dvrl  fjUBrj^,  Kal  klj^v  cV  ij/pa  pn^aro  ^ain{r, 
o2a  TTcp  curaiouaai'  c^cui'  Trct^/xoiv  4COi^n|r* 
riap^cVc,  8€;^vwjo  v€Krap'     • 

ca  ^iXondfB€¥C¥  Shmp* 

<l>€Vy€    TTOTOV    KprjVOXOV,    OITC^   fjLTf    Qtlo    KOptVf^  111 

OTTi  Y^jvaifxavdwv  SoAoci;  ttcAc*  BcoooAiSof  5^ 
834 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  90-117 

the  fiery  Dog  of  heaven,  the  girl  sought  out  a  neigh- 
bouring spring  with  parched  Ups  ;  the  girl  bent  down 
her  curving  neck  and  stooped  her  head,  dipping  a  hand 
again  and  again  and  scooping  the  water  of  her  own 
country  to  her  mouth,  until  she  had  enough  and  left 
the  rills.  When  she  was  gone,  Dionysos  would  bend 
his  knee  to  the  lovely  spring,  and  hollow  his  palms  in 
mimicry  of  the  beloved  girl :  then  he  drank  water 
sweeter  than  selfpoured  nectar.  And  the  unshod 
deep -bosomed  nymph  of  the  spring,  seeing  him 
struck  by  the  sting  of  desire,  would  say  ; 

100  "  Cold  water  to  drink,  Dionysos,  is  of  no  use  to 
you  ;  for  all  the  stream  of  Oceanos  cannot  quench 
the  thirst  of  love.  Ask  your  own  father  !  Europa's 
bridegroom  traversed  that  wide  gulf  and  yet  did  not 
quench  the  fire  of  longing,  but  he  suffered  still  more 
on  the  waters.  Witness  wandering  Alpheios,'*  whom 
you  see  the  servant  of  waterfaring  love,  in  that  trail- 
ing water  through  water  in  all  those  floods  he  escaped 
not  hot  love,  though  he  was  a  watery  traveller !  " 

i<^  So  said  the  unveiled  Naiad,  and  laughed  at 
Lyaios,  diving  into  her  spring,  which  had  one  colour 
with  her  body.^  And  the  god  grudging  at  Poseidon 
ruler  of  the  waves  felt  fear  and  jealousy,  since  the 
maiden  drank  water  and  not  wine.  He  uttered 
his  voice  to  the  unhearing  air,  as  if  the  girl  were 
there  to  hear  and  obey  : 

11*  "  Maiden,  accept  the  nectar — leave  this  water 
that  maidens  love  !  Avoid  the  water  of  the  spring, 
lest  Seabluehair  steal  your  maidenhood  in  the  water 
— for  a  mad  lover  and  a  crafty  one  he  is  !     You  know 

<*  See  on  xxxvii.  173. 

^  This,  if  anything,  is  what  the  curious  Greek  phrase  seems 
to  mean. 

235 


NONNOS 

Tvpov9  otSas"  tparra  koI  vyfMn6pov^  vfiMvntavr' 
Kal  av  poov  SoAociTa  ^vXaaa€o,  fitf  a4o  |lil|lip 
tjj€vhaXios  AiKy«t€,  ya^ioKXano^  ok  9tp  *Emmw9t,      UO 
TJdcXov  €t  y€v6fir]v  Kol  €yw  p6o£,  ott  ^90olx^t^$ 

Sul/aXcrjv  anl>vXaKrov  tfiriy  Aifiartfia  Tvpfif,* 

Efxrc  d€6s'  iuXiwv  hi  furdrpomatf  Mot  d[|iffff » 
oirrrodi  napdtvos  ^,  iSvaaro  ftdSamor  Aip  ISS 

Eviog  dypcimjpi  irav€U(fXo^'  afipotc6§itf  M 
aXXo<l>irq^  ayixiXTTo^  6yuX€€y  ^tvyt  ifoif^ 
ei/ccAo;  Tjprjrijpi,  koI  dnXu^i  Ofi4^  wpoomWHf 
tlt€v6aX€ov  fiifi-qfia  trao^povo^  hrXaatP  affioJg* 
/cat  TT^  fi€v  aicoirui{cv  ifnjfidbos  dMpo¥  ipimnif,       uq 
77^  5c  rainmropSoio  PoBvokuw  mU  p^^XU^  ^'^^» 
els  niTW  ofifia  ^Upiov  XtXirffidvov,  aXXort 
rj  TTTcAer;)/  €S6k€V€'  ^vXaaaofUvov  5^ 
ofifiam  Xadpthioujiv  th^pKtro  ytlropa  Ko^ptpf^ 
fiTj  fuv  aAuaica{c(€  fJLtrdrpoiroi-  riidii^  ydp  Uf 

KC1AA09  oTTnrtvovri  Koi  i^Aiirof  of^iara  KOtipffg 
Ktmpibujjv  cAa;(€ia  napal^aais  cWur  *E^mtw¥, 

Kal  'Beporjs  axthov  i^c  kcu  ijStXt  §iGBo¥  Aij^i, 
oAAd  <f>6P<x}  nerrtbrfTO'  ^cAcvic,  irfj  ado  MjpOM 
dv8po<f>6voi ;    TTTJ  ^pucra  K€pdarti;    irfj  o4o  X^^TI    '*^ 
yAau^d  7T€8orp€<f>€iJiiv  o^iwhta  Sca/ia  Spcuctfrrsir; 
TT^  OTOfidTOiv  p,vKTjp,a  fiopvfipopov ;    i.  ft/yo  Ai^ia, 
napdevov  €rp€fi€  Bcucxoff,  01/  €rp€fi€  ^vXa  rvydtnmf 
Triy€V€0}V  oXcTTJpa  <f>6fios  vucqo€V  *Eparrciiv* 
ToaaaTUxiv  3*  rjfi-qa€V  dp€ifiai'€wv  y4vos  *Ii«5c0r,        145 
ic€u  yiiav  lfjL€p6€Gaav  dvdXxiSa  5ct5i€  iroi^n^r, 
SctSie  d7)Xtrr€pTiv  dnaXoxpoov  €v  Sc  froAc^MUC 
236 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  118-147 

the  love  of  Thessalian  Tyro  "  and  her  wedding  in  the 
waters  ;  then  you  too  take  care  of  the  crafty  flood, 
lest  the  deceiver  loose  your  girdle  just  as  the  wedding- 
thief  Enipeus  did.  O  that  I  also  might  become  a 
flood,  Uke  Earthshaker,  and  murmuring  might  em- 
brace my  own  Tyro  of  Lebanon,  thirsty  and  careless 
beside  the  lovestricken  spring  !  " 

124  So  the  god  spoke  ;  and  changing  his  form  for 
another  he  plunged  into  the  shady  thicket  where  the 
maiden  was,  Euios  wholly  like  a  hunter  ;  in  a  new 
and  unknown  aspect  he  joined  the  softhaired  unyoked 
maid,  Uke  a  youth,  moulding  a  false  image  of  modesty 
with  steady  looks  on  his  face.  Now  he  surveyed  the 
peak  of  a  lonely  rock,  now  he  spied  into  the  long- 
branching  trees  on  the  uplands,  turning  an  eager  eye 
on  a  pine  or  again  inspecting  a  firtree,  or  an  elm — 
but  with  cautious  countenance  and  stolen  glances  he 
watched  the  girl  so  close  to  him,  lest  she  should  turn 
and  run  away  ;  for  beauty  and  the  eyes  of  a  girl  of  his 
own  age  have  httle  consolation  to  a  lad  who  gazes  at 
her  for  the  loves  which  the  Cyprian  sends. 

138  He  came  near  to  Beroe  and  would  have  spoken 
a  word,  but  fear  held  him  fast.  God  of  jubilation, 
where  is  your  manslaying  thyrsus  ?  Where  your 
frightful  horns  ?  Where  the  green  snaky  ropes  of 
earthfed  serpents  in  your  hair  ?  Where  is  your  heavy- 
booming  bellow?  See  a  great  miracle — Bacchos 
trembling  before  a  maid,  Bacchos  before  whom  the 
tribes  of  the  giants  trembled  !  Love's  fear  has  con- 
quered the  destroyer  of  giants.  He  mowed  down  all 
that  warmad  nation  of  the  Indians,  and  he  fears 
one  weak  lovely  girl,  fears  a  tender  woman.     On  the 

<»  She  loved  the  river  Enipeus ;  Poseidon  enjoyed  her  by 
taking  the  river  god's  shape.     See  Od.  xi.  235  ff. 

237 


NONNOS 

OrfpovofJUit  vdpBr)Ki  KartTrpi^tn^ 

Kal  ol  ipirrroirjrov  vno  arofia  ftCBof  dX^fffi  IM 

yXwaaav  cV  oxporarni'  inrtdiftTO  yc Ac!  ytirtm, 
€K  <l>p€v6s  dlaatov  fcai  M  ^p/ni  liarifiof  ifmwir 
aXKa  <l>6Pov  yXuKvnucpov  4xoj¥  oZMiom  my§ 
€19  <fxios  €a<Tv^€V7jv  TroAivdy/MTor  mtnmM  ^wrw. 
Kai  fioyi9  v<rr€p6fiv$oy  vir6  0r6ita  SiiO|l3r  i^ifoif    IM 
a^ou;  ofiPoXupyoy  dnca^^fnMFC  OMMn{r« 

"  "Afrrtfu,  irfj  ato  Tofa; 

TT^  Ai7r€9,  ov  if>op€€ii  imyotfyiiot  dvp^  j|hApb; 
77^  aco  Kciixi  7r/5tAa,  Boan€pa  KVtM3^99  9§fKfi;      IM 
71^  X^P^  dfi^TrdAofv ;    9rn  5(«rrva  ;    irg  ir^Wf  ^fyol; 
ov  bpofiov  cvTtn^i9  irc/xado<r(F($or*  o^  WXnt  y^ 
dy/Ko<7<7€iv,  o^t  Kim/H9  *A&<aw3o9  iyy^  t&dmf* 
''Ew€7r€  ddfipo^  €x<ov  dtrarnXiOK*  /r  '^fiM^  M 
napdeviKrj  /ict^T^acv*  ctTrctpoiccuraf  ft^  impbo^  Ml 

ai;;^€W  yavpov  dccpcv  dvaA\o/i€>i}  X<VM9  fpfi* 
orrt,  yin^  Trcp  €ovaa,  ^u^v  nucro  Afaiy||* 
ou3€  SdAoi"  yivwaK€  voonXavtof  Ataifvoov. 
Kal  nX€ov  dxyvTo  liatcxo^,  <Vc(  ncBo¥  cA  udB€  i 

rov  ^Bos  €xovaa,  kcu  rjStXfv,  ^^P^  Oa€^ 
pov  iov  papvfioxOoy,  €7Turrap.4vijf  &n  i 
o^ifiog  rji6€U}  TTcpcAciTTtTOi  cAwiy  'Epomur 
iaaofi€vr)^  <f>iX6niros,  cV  dir^icrc^  8<  fi€90f9§ 
dv€p€s  Ip^ipovaiVf  or*  dyvtoaaovai  yvtmuns* 

Kal  ^cos"  "^fJLap  €7T*  ^fiap  cow  irtriKuSco;  Ai|f 
SctVAo?,  €19  /i€CToi'  ^^ap,    E<oco9,  "'Ecnrc/wf  ipmw¥, 
napdeviicQ  7Tap€fiifLV€,  koI  rjBtXgy  curcri  fufu^cir* 

238 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  148-177 

mountains  he  quieted  the  terrifying  roar  of  lions 
with  his  beast-ruling  fennel,  and  he  trembled  before  a 
woman's  threat.  A  word  strayed  into  his  trembling 
mouth  to  the  tip  of  his  tongue  close  behind  the  lips — 
it  came  from  his  heart  and  crept  back  to  his  heart 
again,  but  the  bittersweet  fear  held  it  in  shamefast 
silence,  and  drew  back  the  voice,  as  it  tried  to  issue 
into  the  light.  Too  late  he  spoke,  and  hardly  then, 
when  he  burst  the  chain  of  shame  from  his  lips  and 
undid  the  procrastinating  silence,  and  asked  Beroe 
in  a  voice  of  pretence, 

158  "  Artemis,  where  are  your  arrows  ?  Who  has 
stolen  your  quiver  ?  Where  did  you  leave  the  tunic 
you  wear,  just  covering  the  knees  ?  Where  are 
those  boots  quicker  than  the  whirling  wind  ?  Where 
is  your  company  in  attendance  ?  Where  are  your 
nets  ?  Where  your  fleet  hounds  .''  You  are  not 
making  ready  for  chase  of  the  pricket,  for  you  do  not 
wish  to  hunt  where  Cypris  is  sleeping  beside  Adonis." 

^^  So  he  spoke,  feigning  astonishment,  and  the 
maiden  smiled  in  her  heart ;  she  lifted  a  proud  neck 
in  unsuspicious  pleasure,  rejoicing  in  her  youthful 
freshness,  because  she,  a  mortal  woman,  was  hkened 
to  a  goddess  in  beauty,  and  did  not  see  the  trick  of 
mindconfusing  Dionysos.  But  Bacchos  was  yet  more 
affected,  because  the  girl  in  her  childish  simplicity 
knew  not  desire  ;  he  wished  she  might  learn  his  own 
overpowering  passion,  since  when  the  girl  knows, 
there  is  always  hope  for  the  lad  that  love  will  come  at 
last,  but  when  women  do  not  notice,  man's  desire  is 
only  a  fruitless  anxiety. 

^"^^  Thus  day  after  day,  midday  and  afternoon, 
morning  and  evening,  the  god  Ungered  in  the  pine- 
wood,  waiting  for  the  girl  and  ever  willing  to  wait ; 

239 


NONN08 
ndvTCJV  yap  K6po^  iari  nap*  av^p^aw,  ^fi4o9  ^tnmm 

floXTrfjS   T     €VK€XdSoiO    Kol    OtmOTt    ItiifiWTWrm  ^MJf 

ctV  Spofiov  opxri<rrfjpa'  ywaifuipdottn  hk  ua^mjp 
ov  Kopo^  tori  nodujv'  i^Kvaaro  fiifiXsi  'Ofl^pOV. 

Kat  p.oy€wv  AtoKvao9  vntPpv)(Sro  autrnfj, 
Saifiovij)  fidoTiyi  r€TVfijiJvof,  MoA 
KpVTTTov  axoifx-qrutv  vnoHdp6uj¥  IVof  *l 
a>9  5'  oT€  /3ou9  oxiX'tTo^  iow  irAttyninSwpf  ooci 
cV/iov  6p€aaip6fiu}v  miptpirpttw  i}Aloa  raifattii'         IM 
olcrrpr^OtU  dyAr)0(v,  ov  €i>frrraA^  «a^  ^^90K9        li'' 
PouTuno^  6(v6€VTi  fivuHfr  Irapdaorro  aiin^  IM 

aTrpot^T/^,  dXiyw  5<  d^i^^  ptOoXruUmt  oinp^         lit 
rqMKos  iioTif^XucTo,  Koi  opvwtf  m^6$t  Mvrov  itO 

a^  avaac(/>a{aii'  iraXivdyprrov  iinnotw  ^^f^ 
KvpTo^  tiTirpifiwv  atco/ndXuf¥  pdxw,  <irr/rviru»  3^ 
o^v  K€pa^  h6)(}iwa€v  a»ovTaro¥  ^pa  1 4m  rum 
ovTUi  Kal  Aioyvaov,  ov  €<rrc^  voA^am  pitnf, 
/Souof  "Epcu?  ourrprjot  fiaXut¥  wtu^tXydi  xirrpm,      IM 

*O0€  hk  p.aar€vwv  yXvKV  ^dpfiOKOt^  dlr  *K^pMrff 
riavi  Baavar€pvo}  Ila^ii^  iytcvfiovt  §M^ 
Kimpibt-qv  dypvm'ov  trjv  atV^ouvr  <Myin|r« 
#cai  PovXrjv  €p€€iV€v,  dXtiijrtipav  *Epfint¥, 
Kal  KapATovs  Ba#c;(oio  nvpurvtlorro/s  ^MoStttf  SOO 

I  lav  K€p6€L^  €y€Xaaa€,  ^rarcurAao^  5^  |MPOiy§ 
olKTclpwv  hvoipatra  Svoip^pog-  cfnc  M  BoMjif 
KuTrpLSirjv'  oXtyqu  Si  Trapai^aatv  cfy^y    EpcuTwr 
oAAoi^  t5a>»'  <f>X€\d€VTa  piTfi  aww^rjpi  ^apirpofg' 

**  Sum  iradwv,  ^tAc  Baic;(€, 

ifcu  a€  TTo^ei'  vucqa€v  'Epcjs  dpaavt;  €»  ^/Mf  clvvSr, 

•  Horn.  II,  xiu.  636 :    **  Sleep  «ad   love  w  fcry 
240 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  178-206 

for  men  can  have  enough  of  all  things,  of  sweet 
sleep  and  melodious  song,  and  when  one  turns  in 
the  moving  dance — but  only  the  man  mad  for  love 
never  has  enough  of  his  longing  ;  Homer's  book  did 
not  tell  the  truth  !  « 

i®2  Dionysos  suffered  and  moaned  in  silence,  struck 
with  the  divine  whip,  stewing  the  hidden  wound  of 
love  in  his  restless  heart.  As  an  ox  goes  scampering 
over  the  flats  past  the  well-known  swarm  of  hillranging 
bulls,  driven  from  the  herd  when  a  gadfly  has  pierced 
his  hide  with  sharp  sting  under  the  leafy  trees  un- 
noticed :  how  small  the  sting  that  strikes,  how  vast 
the  bulk  of  the  routed  beast !  he  lifts  the  tail  straight 
over  his  back  and  lashes  back,  bends  and  scratches 
his  chine  on  the  rocks,  and  darts  a  sharp  horn  at  his 
side  striking  only  the  unwounded  elastic  air — so 
Dionysos,  crowned  so  often  with  victory,  was  pricked 
by  little  Love  and  his  allbewitching  sting. 

1^  At  length,  seeking  a  sweet  medicine  for  love, 
he  disclosed  to  bushybreasted  Pan  in  words  full  of 
passion  the  unsleeping  constraint  of  his  desire,  and 
craved  advice  to  defend  him  against  love.  Horned 
Pan  laughed  aloud,  when  he  heard  the  firebreathing 
torments  of  Bacchos,  but,  a  luckless  lover  himself, 
heartbroken  he  pitied  one  unhappy  in  love,  and 
gave  him  love-advice ;  it  was  a  small  alleviation  of 
his  own  love  to  see  another  burnt  with  a  spark  from 
the  same  quiver : 

205  "  We  are  companions  in  suffering,  friend 
Bacchos,  and  I  pity  your  feelings.  How  comes  it  that 
bold  Love  has  conquered  you  too  ?     If  I  dare  to  say 

song  and  dance  with  trippling  feet,  yet  a  time  comes  when 
they  pall,  you  can  have  enough  of  all — but  these  Trojans 
never  can  have  enough  of  war  !  " 

VOL.  Ill  R  241 


€1?  €fi€  Kai  ^toviHJov  "KfKo^  cKotifO*  ^«iWrp^« 
oAAd  TTodov  SoAtoio  iroXvrponov  tflo^  4t4iif>ti$, 
Trdcra  yyn7  troOiii  -nXiov  Mpo^,  aSiofnitm  hi 
K€V0€i  K€vrpov  'KputTo^  tputfitu^owm  Mtt  o^nf*      *W 
#cai  /ioycct  ttoAi)  fidXXoy,  inti  tnruS^fHf    KpufTOMf 
dcpfjLorepoi  y€ydacw,  art  «r/N;jirovoi  yiwv&rfff 
iiiofivxov  7Tpa7rib€aat  ircirap/A^ror  ^  *E^(tfTciM^. 
Kal  yap  or*  oAAijAjTai  it6^w¥  MwwfOUf  iaf^ym^, 
XvoLTTovoiS  odpoiaiv  imotcXiirrovm  fUfiifumj  Sit 

Kvnpidias.     <w  64,  \iaK)(t»  rtur¥  ix^'H/j^  *^ 
fiifirjXij^  €pv^fia  ^pu»v  airan)Aaor  aAo^» 
o2a  aao<l>pov€ovaxiv  €xwv  dyiXcurro^  Javai)v« 
co;  acKcoi"  B€/><>179  OYC^oi'  urrooo*  irai  Aim  P^AAtiiy 
6avp.ari  p,tv  SoXiw  oo&Mt^a  hdpttto  mn4ffm^  tM 

KoXkos:  IvfXKvr^aSt  ort  njAuror  oi)  Xdx0  *H^,        Stl 
^ai  Xaptra;  tcixXrjaKt  ;(c/)«iO»«ic>  a^^oW[p>w>  M       SM 
fiop<f>7J  fuufJLOv  ai'aTTTC,  #rai  'Apr^fuhof  kqI  *A^i{n|f»  ttf 
iccu  Be/xJiyw  dyofxu«  ^ocivor/anK  *A^^o3Jn|r* 
Kovprj  5*  curatbvaa  rc^v  ^KVOrffiora  fto§iif^ 
ait'Oi  T€p7rop.€vr)  irXiov  lararai'  owe  MSUt  yi^ 

elaateiv,  ori  koXXos  vntpfiaXiy  i^AucOf  jS^f*  00 

napdeiitcqv  3*  cV  ipwra  yoij^vt  Olkf€  mtfwf^  ttl 

KiWfUviuv  pX€<t>dpwv  dyrarrria  ytvfiara  W|i«cir*  ttt 

7T€7rrap.€vii  5c  fUramov  d^iS^i  Y€ipi  war^ftit  ttS 

il/€xSaX€ov  G€o  ddfifios  €X€<f>poyi  0<umM  otyf.  ttt 

oAAd  ^j3o9  /xcdcVci  ac  oaci^povof  iyyvdi  tto^fftp'  M 
ctW,  Tt  aot  pcfci  /xid  napS/yo^;    oi  h6fm  ■■AXw,  tit 

ou  poSej)  TraXdfjLT)  Tayv€i  fiiXo^'  fyYca  icoi)ipii|f  *•• 
6<f>6aXp.ol  y^ydaoiv  d/coiTccrriJpcs'  *hspufrw¥, 
napdcvLKTJs  Se  ^ScAc/ii^  poSwinSts  cun  wapiUiL 

248 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  207-237 

so,  Eros  has  emptied  his  quiver  on  me  and  Dionysos  ! 
But  I  will  tell  you  the  multifarious  ways  of  deception 
in  love. 

209  "  Every  woman  has  greater  desire  than  the  man, 
but  shamefast  she  hides  the  sting  of  love,  though  mad 
for  love  herself ;  and  she  suffers  much  more,  since  the 
sparks  of  love  become  hotter  when  women  conceal  in 
their  bosoms  the  piercing  arrow  of  love.  Indeed, 
when  they  tell  each  other  of  the  force  of  desire,  their 
gossip  is  meant  to  soothe  the  pain  and  deceive  their 
voluptuous  longings.  And  you,  Bacchos,  must  wear  a 
deceptive  blush  of  pretended  shame  to  carry  your  love 
along.  You  must  keep  an  unsmiling  countenance 
as  if  through  modesty,  and  stand  beside  Beroe  as  if 
by  mere  chance.  Hold  your  nets  in  hand,  and  look 
at  the  rosy  girl  with  pretended  amazement,  praising 
her  beauty ;  say  that  not  Hera  has  the  like,  call  the 
Graces  less  fair,  find  fault  with  the  good  looks  of  both 
Artemis  and  Athena,  tell  Beroe  she  is  more  brilliant 
than  Aphrodite.  Then  the  girl  when  she  hears  your 
feigned  faultfinding,  stands  there  more  delighted 
with  your  praise  ;  more  than  mountains  of  gold 
she  would  hear  about  her  rosy  comehness,  how 
her  beauty  surpasses  all  the  friends  of  her  youth. 
Charm  the  maiden  to  love  with  a  meaning  silence. 
Let  your  eyelids  move,  send  wink  and  beck  towards 
her.  Open  your  hand  and  slap  your  brow  without 
mercy,  and  show  your  feigned  amazement  by 
prudent  silence.  You  will  say,  fear  restrains  you  in 
the  presence  of  a  modest  maid  ;  tell  me,  what  will  a 
lonely  girl  do  to  you  ?  She  shakes  no  spear,  she  draws 
no  shaft  with  that  rosy  hand  "  ;  the  girl's  weapons 
are  those  eyes  which  shoot  love,  her  batteries  are 

"  Nonnos,  or  Pan,  has  forgotten  that  Beroe  was  a  huntress. 

243 


NONNOS 

€Sva  5c  aolo  troOoto,  rtrj^  irct^i^Aia  w^iit^t 

fi-q  XWov  'IvSifrrfv,  firj  fidpyapa  x^tpl  iwd^Uf, 

ota  ywaifmvtoirn  WAc i  04fUf'  tig  Ilo^lfr  yi^        MO 

d/i^icVct?  r€6v  €tBo9  indpt(iO¥,  t^a^iot  U 

iccuUco;  lfi€ipov<n  teal  od  XP^'^'^'^  yuwSwWf. 

fiapTvpiTj^  €r^prf^  ov  btvofuu'  ifipOK^fiam  y^ 

TTola  trap    'E^ufuoiit);  ihl^aro  &3{pa  ScAi^; 

apryvpov  *Qpuuv  ou«r  ctfiroofv  ii^i)Mtwi%* 
OU  K€^<lAo;  7t6p€V  oXfio¥  ^iiijjpafu»* 

amaa€  notxlXa  bwpa,  koI  od  nap4w€tOt¥  *A^i)n|ir 
ov  irlXiKvs  XP^^H-V^^  XtxuHOf'  <IAM  BmUrfif  W 

lpi€ipo}v  a(fxip.apT€.    ai  $€  {v)^iair  ^yMKoXofr 
<f>€pr€pov,  riv  idlKri^,  0fXtm^piO¥  iXXo  ZM(m* 
PdppiTa  x^^P''  Aiycu>^,  rtrjs  QpaBi^fi/mra  'Pc^« 
Ktmpi3os-  d/3po»'  dyoAfux  napoivtotr  ^^^^tffd^om  M 
7rA^/cT^i9  'cai  aropLartoat  x^at¥  iT€pS$pOOm  ijiX*^*    MS 
^axf>vrjv  npwTov  dciSc  #fai  oamBiog  hp6§t€¥  *HxpVi 
Kal  KTvnov  vaT€p6<f>cjvov  aaiyijTOio  Btaitnjiit 
OTTL  deovs  TToOtovra^  dn€<mryov'  aXXA  tnl  adr^ 
lUkne.   riirw  <f>vy6h€pivov , 

6p€idat  awSpofto¥  aSpOig, 
Flavor  dXvaKd^ovoav  dvuft^urovf  t^ficvaiowp*  MO 

/xcAttc  pLopov  <f>dipi€vrf^  avroxBova'  pUfi^o  yoiO' 
Kol  rdxa  SaKpvG€i€  yoi^pLovo^  oAyca  ifSpk^t 
Kol  pLopov  olKT€ipouua'  OV  &€  ^pcW  rifimm  my§ 
S44 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  238-263 

those  rose-red  girlish  cheeks.  For  lovegifts  to  be 
treasures  for  your  bride,  do  not  display  the  Indian 
jewel,  or  pearls,  as  is  the  way  of  mad  lovers  ;  for 
to  get  love,  your  own  handsome  shape  is  enough — 
to  touch  your  beautiful  body  is  what  women  want, 
not  gold ! 

243  "  I  need  no  other  testimony — what  gifts  did 
Selene  take  from  softhaired  Endymion  ?  What  love- 
gift  did  Adonis  produce  for  Cypris  ?  Orion "  gave 
no  silver  to  Dawn ;  Cephalos  ^  provided  no  delect- 
able wealth  ;  but  the  only  one  it  seems  who  did 
offer  handsome  gifts  was  Hephaistos,  being  lame, 
to  make  up  for  his  unattractive  looks,  and  then 
he  failed  to  persuade  Athena — his  birthdelivering 
axe  did  not  help  him,  but  he  missed  the  goddess  he 
wanted. 

^^  "  But  there  is  a  stronger  charm  for  wedded 
union,  which  I  will  teach  you  if  you  like.  Twang  the 
lyre  which  was  dedicated  to  your  Rheia,  the  delicate 
treasure  of  Cypris  beside  the  winecup.  Pour  out  the 
varied  sounds  together,  voice  and  striker  !  Sing  first 
Daphne,"  sing  the  erratic  course  of  Echo,'^  and  the 
answering  note  of  the  goddess  who  never  fails  to 
speak,  for  these  two  despised  the  desire  of  gods. 
Yes,  and  sing  also  of  Pitys  *  who  hated  marriage,  who 
fled  fast  as  the  wind  over  the  mountains  to  escape  the 
unlawful  wooing  of  Pan,  and  her  fate — how  she  dis- 
appeared into  the  soil  herself ;  put  the  blame  on  the 
Earth !  Then  she  may  perhaps  lament  the  sorrows 
and  the  fate  of  the  wailing  nymph  ;  but  you  must  let 
your  heart  rejoice  in  silence,  as  you  see  the  honey- 

"  One  of  the  numerous  lovers  of  Eos  ;  same  as  Orion  the 
hunter. 

"  An  Attic  hero,  husband  of  Procris,  loved  by  Eos. 

•  Cf.  ii.  108.  "  Cf.  ii.  119.  *  Cf.  ii.  108. 

245 


NONNOS 

fivpofiti^  opowv  fuXiTfSta  hiueova 

ovSi  ytXois  ntXt  touk,  «V<t  irA^or  oIiOTt  §mp^    Mi 

lyApral  vcycmati',  ore  crrci^axoMn  )^iwftwf. 

fjJXipov  €po)fiaytovaav  in    *Ei«5u/ifa<»i  ScA^*^* 

fi/A7re  ydfioy  yapUvro^  *Ahamiot,  mM  teal  O^r^ 

avxfJ-fJprjv  dntOiXov  aXu>oiUvf(¥  *A^pMni¥, 

wiuf>iov  ixvtvovaay  6piipofiO¥'  iMd  0«  4fiiyn         f^ 

TTarpaxMiv  aiovaa  fuXi^pova  Btiffi/iv  *FpmTmif, 

aol  fi€v  cycu  ra5c  ndyra, 

oAAa  fi€  iroi  <7v  &c5a^ov  <fc^  ^^cANnJ^Mor  *Hjpoi^." 

*Q9  ciTTcoi'  dnt7rtfin€  ytyrf$6ra  ircUSa  0uciriri|f •     S74 
icoi  boXirjv  Atoiax70f  <X'''^  ay£\curror  JaiUiB^  ii 

napdevitcqv  €p€Ui'€v  *A6i»rtnhof  Ofi^  TO«i)or» 
cuf  <f>iXo9»  ws  ofioBrjpo^  dpthpoftoi'  lanuUi^  hi 

ws  d€Kwv  €0Xii(f€V'  inulfavovoa  hi  /ia{ctfr 
h€^ir€pfj  vdpKT)0€  yut^aifiay^of  Amh^uodv.  10 

fccu  7ror£  »n77ria;^iaiv  ^  rjBtaw  tiprro  wodjwf  fi 

vfa  A109  TTap€6vra,  rU  cttActo  iral  ruiof  <n* 
Kai  npo^aiv  fioyi^  €vp€  napd  npo&vcot/t  ^AfpoUnft 
opxarov  d/iTreAoc^Ta  xal  ofiTTvta  Ama  yo^ff 
Kai  hpoa€p6v  Aci/xtuixi  iccu  aioAa  Sci'jpa  Soiciifaw^ 
^^cat   K€pSaX€oiai'  Kal,  otd  re  y^iroMX  ^^H^»  ^^ 

ofi^i  ydfiov  riyd  pvOov  doTj^idyrtft  ^^ro  ^M^f* 
**  Ei^i  T60U  ALpdyoio  y^wfiopos-  tf^  iSMjoffS, 
dpSevw  aeo  yalav,  iyw  ato  Kopmov  a/(ci». 
*0.pduiv  TTicnjpwv  vo€w  hpofiov  Urrafk€yrj¥  hi 
vvaaav  oTTiTrevatv  <f>$ivo'nwpiSa  roOro  ficqaw  ^^ 

'  ^Kopn los  arrcAAci  pionjaio^,  €<m  S4  tcijpu^ 
avXaKos  €VKdp7TOiO'  poas  (ciAftu/icv  dfidrptp, 

246 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  264-287 

sweet  tears  of  the  sorrowing  maid.  No  laugh  was 
ever  Uke  that,  since  women  become  more  desirable 
with  that  ruddy  flush  when  they  mourn.  Sing  Selene 
madly  in  love  with  Endymion,  sing  the  wedding  of 
graceful  Adonis,  sing  Aphrodite  herself  wandering 
dusty  and  unshod,  and  tracking  her  bridegroom 
over  the  hills.  Beroe  will  not  run  away  from  you 
when  she  hears  the  honeyhearted  lovestories  of  her 
home.  There  you  have  all  I  can  tell  you,  Bacchos,  for 
your  unhappy  love  !  Now  you  tell  me  something  to 
charm  my  Echo." 

274  Having  said  his  say,  he  dismissed  the  son  of 
Thyone  comforted.  Then  Dionysos  put  on  a  serious 
look,  the  trickster !  and  questioned  the  maiden  about 
her  father  Adonis,  as  a  friend  of  his,  as  a  fellow-hunter 
among  the  hills.  She  stood  still,  he  brought  a  longing 
hand  near  her  breast,  and  stroked  her  belt  as  if  not 
thinking  what  he  did  :  but  touching  her  breast,  the 
lovesick  god's  right  hand  grew  numb.  Once  in 
her  childlike  way,  the  girl  asked  the  son  of  Zeus 
beside  her  who  he  was  and  who  was  his  father. 
With  much  ado  he  found  an  excuse,  when  he 
saw  before  the  portals  of  Aphrodite  the  vineyard 
and  the  bounteous  harvest  of  the  land,  the  dewy 
meadow  and  all  the  trees ;  and  in  the  cunning  of 
his  mind,  he  made  as  if  he  were  a  farm-labourer  and 
spoke  of  wedding  in  words  that  meant  more  than 
they  said : 

282  "  I  am  a  countryman  of  your  Lebanon.  If  it  is 
your  pleasure,  I  will  water  your  land,  I  will  grow  your 
corn.  I  understand  the  course  of  the  four  Seasons. 
When  I  see  the  limit  of  autumn  is  here,  I  will  call 
aloud — *  Scorpion  is  rising  \\dth  his  bounteous  plenty, 
he  is  the  herald  of  a  fruitful  furrow,  let  us  yoke  oxen 

247 


N0NN08 

UXriiah€9  hwovai'  irorc*  tmtipopfuw 

avXaK€S  atSivovaiv,  ore  hpoaoi  ffc  X^^"^ 

avofUvrp^  ^ateoyri.'    #fol  'Apteahot  iyy^  *A|Ufi|r  »• 

;(c4^'''o^  ofiPprjiJoyros  iSofr    AptcToOpiH^  imfm* 

'  hultaX^  noT€  yoid  Aw  niM^>frfff«A  ^k/W-' 

'  avB€a  otto  TtBfiXi'  n&rt  Kplm  ml  fAa  rAAca;     IN 

icoi  ara4tv\riv  opocjv  B4p€o^  vopt^TOf  M|^»*  Mi 

'  apiT^Xos  r)fiwovaa  irtifau^trtu  fyfiOptH  ifinnfS' 
inLp6€V€t  auyyovos  ^A^c* 

ir6r€  rpvy6ija^U9  Jjnapy^ 

Ay^iov  apriow  araywt^po¥»  cM^i  5^  Ai|o^ 

firjrpi  r€7J  p€^aipx  BaXvata  Ktm/x>yrv«^.'  |M 

vp€r€pnr)s  p€  Kopiaat  ^vrr^KOpov  o^poycMci}; ,  SM 

o^pa  ^trrov  in^^aipi  ^ptofiiov,  inupSUm  W  Mi 

optfpatca  yivwuKio  vtoSriX^a  "jftpovf  oi^^aot^* 
oZ3a,  TTodev  TTOTc  /x^Aa  TrcTrau'crai*  oOa  ^rtfpm 
leoi  wreXeriv  ravv^vXXov  €p€thoptvifv  tcvwapioo^' 
dpaeva  koX  iftoiviKa  yeyriB&ra  Bt^I  fuayw, 
Kai  KpoKov,  Tjv  cWAt/s",  irapa  ptXojci  tcaXi^  iiifw,    SIO 
firj  fiot  xpt^^v  dyois  Kopi&rj^  X9P*^' 

ov  XP^os  6Xpom' 
*■  5urovat  wort  Roie,  fcfemww  vor«  rdd. 
248 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  288-311 

to  the  plow.  The  Pleiads  are  setting  :  when  shall  we 
sow  the  fields  ?  The  furrows  are  teeming,  when  the 
dew  falls  on  land  parched  by  Phaethon.'  "  And  in 
the  showers  of  winter  when  I  see  Arcturos  ^  close  to 
the  Arcadian  wain,  I  will  exclaim — *  At  last  thirsty 
Earth  is  wedded  with  the  showers  of  Zeus.'  As  the 
spring  rises  up,  I  will  cry  out  in  the  morning — '  Your 
flowers  are  blooming,  when  shall  I  pluck  Hlies  and 
roses  ?  Just  look  how  the  iris  has  run  over  the 
neighbouring  myrtle,  how  narcissus  laughs  as  he 
leaps  on  anemone ! '  And  when  I  see  the  grapes  of 
summer  before  me  I  will  cry — '  The  vine  is  in  her 
prime,  ripening  without  the  sickle  :  Maiden,  your 
sister  ^  has  come — when  shall  we  gather  the  grapes  ? 
Your  wheatear  is  grown  big  and  wants  the  harvest ; 
I  will  reap  the  crop  of  corn-ears,  and  I  will  celebrate 
harvest  home  for  your  mother  the  Cyprus  -  born 
instead  of  Deo.' 

303  '*  Accept  me  as  your  labourer  to  help  on  your 
fertile  lands.  Take  me  as  planter  for  your  Foam- 
born,  that  I  may  plant  that  lifebringing  tree,  that  I 
may  detect  the  half-ripe  berry  of  the  tame  vine  and 
feel  the  newgrowing  bud.  I  know  how  apples  ripen  ; 
I  know  how  to  plant  the  widespreading  elm  too,  lean- 
ing against  the  cypress.  I  can  join  the  male  palm 
happily  with  the  female,  and  make  pretty  saffron, 
if  you  like,  grow  beside  bindweed.  Don't  offer  me 
gold  for  my  keep ;   I  have  no  need  of  wealth — my 

"  The  Sun  is  in  Scorpius  in  late  October,  the  Pleiads  set 
about  the  beginning  of  November,  the  plowing  and  sowing 
are  for  winter  wheat. 

^  Arcturos  (and  Bootes)  sets  in  the  evening  early  in 
November,  and  rises  in  the  evening  about  the  beginning  of 
March ;  the  latter  is  meant  here,  apparently  :  a  sign  of  rain. 

"  Perhaps  this  means  "  Virgo  has  risen  "  (Aug.  31). 

249 


NONNOS 

fuoBov  €xo»  ^vo  firiXa,  furjf  €va  fi6rpv¥  immpifft.* 
Tola  fjLarrjv  ayoptiH,  koX  ovtc  ^Ifitro  ffO^ 

Bojcxov  firi  voiovaa  yvwu/ioWof  ar^xa  iMmf, 
•AAA«i  5oAa>  hoXov  oAAoF  M^poBa^  E^pa^M^npt • ; 

Koi  3€p6rj^  dno  x^^P^  ih^x^nno  hltciva  ^y^ff 

ota  T€  ^a/i/SiJooy  T€)fin{fio»«,  wimtmL  M  IM^MP 

'•  TiV  d€6s  €VTta  raOra,  tiV  o^pavifi  f€d§u  r^n; 
rU  Kdfi€ ;    Koi  yap  dnurrov  ixy*  v6o¥t  im  rMoom  ! 

ELirtv  atcriXrjTOio  mipanXdiw¥  ^p^  KO^pff^. 
KOI  7roT£  'n€7rrap.ivuiv  dvtiuttvtlbo^  (n^iB%  ^4^Xtmf 
joJSu/iov  xmvov  lavtv  ovap  h4  <h  hrXtro  MM^pif 
cifuiri  wynf>ihl^t  irtrrvKaafUyti.     dirrirvno^  yip 
€pYOVf  o  nep  tcA<€i  tij  /i'  rjfiart,  vwtrl  ^OWfrfli* 
povKoXo^  VTTvd>wv  Ktpaov^  fioa^  tk  vofi^  iXttU' 
SltCTva  Brjprjrfjpi  ^ctWrai  o^i;  6%fipov 
Y€U>n6voi  5*  ei>8orT€9  apor/Kuoyau'  dpoiipagf 
avXoJca  &€  cmeipovai  ^plaraxyv'  dj^aXifi  S4 
avhpa  p,€arj^ppi^ovTa  Kardax^Txn^  al^otn  ^(f^Q 
€t9  poov,  €19  dfidprjv  ciTrar^Ato;  tmnx  JAoiWl* 
ourcu  Kat  /^toyvoost  cx^f  u'SoAfuiTa  fufx^BM^* 
fUfiriXat  'rrr€p6€VTa  voov  Trdfincvcv  (Wi^» 
'  So  Mss.  t  l^dwich  iwipp94t9. 

*  Dionysos  is  using  the  wrll-vorn  p«r«Ilri  of  wooMni 
and  field',  man  and  plowman,  (^  plov,  but  fWrot  b  too 
innocent  to  undtrstand  (814).  Halt  the  things  he  MJt  Mc 
charged  vi  ith  a  d<»iible  meaning  ;  Aphmditr'n  harrcnl-home 
(300)  would  be  niarrinjri-,  or  i>erhn|*H  th**  hirth  of  A  diiid*  tlie 

250 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  S12-334 

wages  will  be  two  apples  and  one  bunch  of  grapes 
of  one  vintage."" 

312  All  this  he  said  in  vain  ;  the  girl  answered 
nothing,  for  she  understood  nothing  of  the  mad  lover's 
long  speech. 

315  But  Eiraphiotes  ^  thought  of  trick  after  trick. 
He  took  the  hunting-net  from  Beroe's  hands  and  pre- 
tended to  admire  the  clever  work,  shaking  it  round 
and  round  for  some  time  and  asking  the  girl  many 
questions — "  What  god  made  this  gear,  what  heavenly 
art  ?  Who  made  it  ?  Indeed  I  cannot  believe  that 
Hephaistos  mad  with  jealousy  made  hunting-gear  for 
Adonis  !  " 

322  So  he  tried  to  bewilder  the  wits  of  the  girl  who 
would  not  be  so  charmed.  Once  it  happened  that  he 
lay  sound  asleep  on  a  bed  of  anemone  leaves  ;  and  he 
saw  the  girl  in  a  dream  decked  out  in  bridal  array. 
For  what  a  man  does  in  the  day,  the  image  of  that  he 
sees  in  the  night  ;  the  herdsman  sleeping  takes  his 
horned  cattle  to  pasture  ;  the  huntsman  sees  nets  in 
the  vision  of  a  dream ;  men  who  work  on  the  land  plow 
the  fields  in  sleep  and  sow  the  furrow  with  corn ;  a  man 
parched  at  midday  and  possessed  with  fiery  thirst 
is  driven  by  deceiving  sleep  to  a  river,  to  a  channel 
of  water.  So  Dionysos  also  beheld  the  likeness  of  his 
troubles,  and  let  his  mind  go  flying  in  mimic  dreams 

"  planter  of  the  Foamborn  "  a  successful  lover  (304),  and  the 
trees  and  grapes  have  an  obvious  sexual  allusion.  Finally, 
the  proposed  wages  (311-312)  contain  another  pun;  fii]Xa  is 
properly  apples,  but  can  mean  a  woman's  breasts,  and  a 
bunch  of  grapes  is  what  one  gathers  at  vintage,  but  to 
"gather  the  vintage"  of  a  woman  is  to  enjoy  her  favours, 
c/.  Ar.  Peace  1338-1339. 

''  The  meaning  of  the  epithet  is  unknown  :  but  Nonnos 
connects  it  with  pdnTeiv  "  to  stitch  "  in  ix.  23,  which  suggested 
the  conjecture  eVeppa^ev  here  for  iire^pabev  from  vii.  152. 

251 


NONNOS 

Kal  aKi€poi<n  ydftounv  6fiiXf€y.    iyp6§U90f  hi         SM 
napdtvov  ovK  €Kixr)a€,  Kal  rj$€X€¥  airwt  to/Smr 
Kal  K€V€r)v  €K6fiiaa€  fiti'wSa^trf^  X4p^  <^>^» 
cvScjv  €V  TTtrdXoiai  raxv^i^Uvrj^  Awj^iAwfl. 
fi€fi<f>€ro  8*  dff>$6yYCJV  ntraXan^  xjiow 

Tttvov  ofiov  Koi  ''E^Kirra  Koi  iontpiiiif   K^ptMrrpt  S40 
rf^v  avTt)v  iK€rtV€v  tScty  irdAir  &ftw  A^fpow» 
<f>aafjLa  ydyuov  rrodtcjv  airanfAior.    ^^(t  M  ftiipTtm 
noXXoKi  hdK)(o^  lav€,  Koi  ov  ya^dait  Ti^XfV 


At;aifi€Ai7;  AioiOMTo;  ^Aucro  vvtd  fupi^urfi,  S4S 

BrfpoawTfv  dv€<f>7)y€V'  dKovriarrjpt  Si  Btipo^ 
oTLKra  v€Oij^y€it»v  (m^hvaaro  b^pfuxra  vtfipQt^, 
Xddpios  €is  h€p6rjv  hthoKTifUvoi'  urra^iiwov  U 
napdevos  dararov  ofifia  ^XaaaofUrri  l^W¥4o9m       IM 
<f>do€l  fiapfiaipovoav  cfiv  €Kpv^  tra^tifr. 
icai  irXiov  c^Acyc  Ba#fvoi',  an  Sprjarijp€t  'E^cvrwr 
aiSop,€va^  €Ti  /xdAAoi'  oTriTrcuouat  yvimira^, 
/cat  irXeov  lp.€ipovai  KaXvrrrofitvoio  ttpoaurwov. 

Kal  noT€  yLouvwO^laav  *\hwvtho^  <^CvKa  mNJJMrMi 
dOpTjoas  ax^hov  ^XOf^  Kal  dt^pofUyjs  dir6  $ioa^tft 
cISoj  €ov  p.€rdpL€i4t€,  KQx  CO?  ^€oy  urraTO  Koiff§' 
Kal  ol  iov  yivos  €Itt€  koI  ovi-ofia, 

Kol  ^6vo¥  *IinS«iir, 
#fai  xopov  d/iTTcAocinra,  Kal  rfSimorov  ywnr  oInw^ 
OTTi  /xiv  dvSpdaiv  €vp€'  <f>iXoaT6pyw  hi  fUvoUF§        StO 
Bdpaos  dvaih^iri  Kcpdaa^  dXXdrpiov  aHhoOs 
roiqv  rroLKiXofivdov  imoaaalvwv  ^ro  ^^airrfp' 

**  Tlapddvc,  aov  8i'  cporra  Kal  ovpavov  ovKm  vaUa* 
Gwv  -naTipwv  OTnjAi^yycy  dp€iov€i  tiaw  'Okuiunv. 
252 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  335-364 

until  he  was  joined  to  her  in  a  wedding  of  shadow. 
He  awoke — and  found  no  maiden,  and  wished  once 
again  to  slumber :  he  carried  away  the  empty  largess 
of  that  short  embrace,  as  he  slept  on  the  leaves  of  the 
anemone  which  perishes  so  soon.  He  reproached  the 
dumb  leaves  there  spread  ;  and  sorrowfully  prayed 
to  Sleep  and  Love  and  Aphrodite  of  the  evening,"  all 
at  once,  to  let  him  see  the  same  vision  of  a  dream  once 
more,  longing  for  the  deceptive  phantom  of  an  em- 
brace. Bacchos  often  slept  near  the  myrtle  ^  and 
never  dreamt  of  marriage.  But  sweet  pain  he  did 
feel ;  and  limb-relaxing  Dionysos  found  his  own  limbs 
relaxed  by  lovestricken  cares. 

34«  In  company  with  Beroe's  father,  the  son  of 
Myrrha,  he  showed  his  hunting-skill.  He  cast  his 
thyrsus,  and  wrapt  himself  in  the  dappled  skins  of  the 
newslain  fawns,  ever  with  his  eye  secretly  on  Beroe  ; 
as  he  stood,  the  maiden  covered  her  bright  cheeks  with 
her  robe,  to  escape  the  wandering  eye  of  Dionysos. 
She  made  him  burn  all  the  more,  since  the  servants  of 
love  watch  shamefast  women  more  closely,  and  desire 
more  strongly  the  covered  countenance. 

3^^  Once  he  caught  sight  of  the  unyoked  girl  of 
Adonis  alone,  and  came  near,  and  changed  his  human 
form  and  stood  as  a  god  before  her.  He  told  her  his 
name  and  family,  the  slaughter  of  the  Indians,  how  he 
found  out  for  man  the  vine-dance  and  the  sweet  juice 
of  wine  to  drink  ;  then  in  loving  passion  he  mingled 
audacity  with  a  boldness  far  from  modesty,  and  his 
flattering  voice  uttered  this  ingratiating  speech  ; 

363  "  Maiden,  for  your  love  I  have  even  renounced 
my  home  in  heaven.     The  caves  of  your  fathers  are 

*»  Venus,  the  evening  star. 
*  As  being  Aphrodite's  plant. 

253 


NONNOS 

TrarpiSa  ariv  ifnX€ut  irXiov  al04poi*  od 
Gtcrj'nrpa  A109  ycwn^po^,  oaov  Bcp^iff 

vlicrapos  €v6SfJLoio  rtoi  irwAOMn  x*^<('^C* 
napd€V€,  6dfi$os  <X<^  ^'^^  MT"'/"  Kinr/Mr  ^iroiSuir, 

(wyryovov  €1x^9  'Epurra 

KOi  od  fioB^f  otarpov  *Kpunw^:     S7I 
oAA*  ^p^€i9  yXavicaymv  dwc tfn^n/v  6fi€va£ut¥'  374 

voa^  yafiov  pXdarrjat  icoi  01)  ydfAOt^  olBcv  *A9i)»<i9*  S76 
ou  ac  W#cc  yAat;icam(9  ^  'Aprtfus.  aXXa  oi,  mn^#  S7t 
Ktmpi5o9  alfxa  <f>€povaa  ri  Kvvpihof  ^PT^  ^f&ytt/t;  S71 
117)  y€vo9  axaxyyii^  prfTpuHOV'  *AaavpuHf  Sj  S79 

afipa  TcAeaaiya/ioio  5i5aairco  Stafia  TOKrjat» 

ical  Y\a<f>l'qs  ^oxrrijpi  awr^Xuci  ntidto  KtOT^t 

Koi  yaptwv  n€<l>vXa(o  hvaayTta  firjyuf  'KptUrutir       MO 

viyAccs  €lalv  "EpcoTcy,  ore  XP^of,  oim6rt  woiri^ 

dTTprJKTOV  <f>iXdTrjros  dTrairi^ovat  yvHUicac* 

olcT^a  yap,  ws  irvpotaaav  dr^irjoaaa  KuBifptfv 

pnaBov  dyrjvopirjs  4>^Xondp$€vos  wmao^  £^yf , 

OTTt  <I>vt6v  yeyavla  voSt)  bovaxw^i  fiop^  180 

€K<l>vy€  Ilavo;  €poyra,  noSoui  5*  m  Hopif  <uAci* 

Kol  dvydrqp  Adhwvos,  dci^o/Wvou  TroroftoSb, 

€pya  ydpxjjv  crvyiovaahtpLas  htx-hpittoaTO  Ni^^^, 

€/x77voa  avpl^ovua,  kou  d/x^i}cvri  icopvfifiip 

^oipov  XiKTpa  <f>vyov<Ta  Kofirjv  corc^aro  ^kUfiov.    WO 

Kcu  aif  xo^ov  SaaTTXrJTa  if>vXdaa€o,  prj  at  j^aXUfg 

dfpp^S  "E/xoj  PapvprjviS'  d^c^v^oa  5^  it^ffS 

*  So  M5S. :  Ludwach  cwxi«ao«* 
254 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIL  365-S92 

better  than  Olympos.  I  love  your  country  more  than 
the  sky  ;  I  desire  not  the  sceptre  of  my  Father  Zeus 
as  much  as  Beroe  for  my  wife.  Your  beauty  is  above 
ambrosia  ;  indeed,  heavenly  nectar  breathes  fragrant 
from  your  dress  !  Maiden,  when  I  hear  that  your 
mother  is  Cypris,  my  only  wonder  is  that  her  cestus  has 
left  you  uncharmed.  How  is  it  you  alone  have  Love 
for  a  brother,  and  yet  know  not  the  sting  of  love  ? 
But  you  will  say  Brighteyes  had  nothing  to  do  with 
marriage  ;  Athena  was  born  without  wedlock  and 
knows  nothing  of  wedlock.  Yes,  but  your  mother 
was  neither  Brighteyes  nor  Artemis.  Well,  girl,  you 
have  the  blood  of  Cypris — then  why  do  you  flee  from 
the  secrets  of  Cypris  ?  Do  not  shame  your  mother's 
race.  If  you  really  have  in  you  the  blood  of  Assyrian 
Adonis  the  charming,  learn  the  tender  rules  of  your 
sire  whose  blessing  is  upon  marriage,  obey  the  cestus 
girdle  born  with  the  Paphian,  save  yourself  from  the 
dangerous  wrath  of  the  bridal  Loves !  Harsh  are 
the  Loves  when  there's  need,  when  they  exact  from 
women  the  penalty  for  love  unfulfilled. 

383  "  YoY  you  know  how  Syrinx  "  disregarded  fiery 
Cythera,  and  what  price  she  paid  for  her  too-great 
pride  and  love  for  virginity  ;  how  she  turned  into  a 
plant  with  reedy  growth  substituted  for  her  own, 
when  she  had  fled  from  Pan's  love,  and  how  she  still 
sings  Pan's  desire  !  And  how  the  daughter  of 
Ladon,^  that  celebrated  river,  hated  the  works  of 
marriage  and  the  nymph  became  a  tree  with  in- 
spired whispers,  she  escaped  the  bed  of  Phoibos  but 
she  crowned  his  hair  with  prophetic  clusters.  You  too 
should  beware  of  a  god's  horrid  anger,  lest  hot  Love 
should  afflict  you  in  heavy  wrath.     Spare  not  your 

«  Cf.  ii.  118.  *  Daphne,  cf.  ii.  108. 

255 


NONNOS 

hi7rX6ov  dfjL^'rr€  Biucxov  owdava  koX 
KoX  Xlva  aoio  toktjo^  *A&cuM3ofr  oi^r^f 
XfKTpov  eyw  arop^aoifu  icoai\»n}n|f  *A^foMnff. 
noid  aoi  €vvoaiyaiof  <iird(ui  Owpa  KOfilofMt; 
'^  pa  aoi  fhva  yduoio  \iki(rrai  aXfMp6¥  Ump, 
Koi  GTop€a(i  nv€iotrra  SvaifBnL  w^itnof  d8|pM)r 
hipyuara  ^kommv,  Iloai^i^  mMa  MUKflNnft; 
hippara  ^otKOJutv  p.^  5/;(Wcyo*  o«2o  M  WQOt^  400 

BoKva;  api6in6Xov^,  l^rvpovf  Btpdamnot  iiwJiaom* 
h€(o  poi  €Ova  ydpoio  koI  ofiirtXMOoar  6wwpi^' 
€i  3*  c^cAct;  Bopv  Bovpov  *AbafVtiot  M  TV  tMf^, 

BvpGOV   CYC  19   ipOV   CVYOf*   €0   yAoiXiKI   Tpjlfalf. 

i^vyt,  *f>iXr},  KOKov  jx^  dmyj/fTwo  ^aXigtnft^        40i 
<f>€vy€  hvaavrqTcitv  l\omi^iO¥  otarpim  *F|pwruir 
oAAt;  'Apupwvn  nap€Xi(aTO  iCTW»uj|ftt/n|f, 
oAAd  yui^  /x€Ta  Xttcrpov  opwmppot  IvAffO  wrfy^* 
Kai  ^kvXav  trapixvt  koI  €iv<iXifj¥  Biro  whwtp^- 
*A(rr€pi7jv  o    €huoK€,  tccu  inXtro  vr^aof  ^pywf*        ^^ 
TrapdeviKrjv  5*  EujSoiOV  ivtppHuHn  BoXii99§* 
o^os  *Apvpwvrjv  pvr)ar€V€r€u,  d^pa  «ml  O^n^ 
AatVcT^v  rcAccTT}  fx^rd  htpvtov  ovros  6»df90ti 
cBvov  €<jjv  daXdpwv  dXiyov  pdov  ^  fip^^Off  oAfti^ 
J  pvdirfv  Tivd  Kox^ov.    cya#  W  oot  c&vjm  puop^^    415 
urrapai  daxaXowv,  riva  gkh,  riva  h<Lpa  ico§i4aauf' 
ov  xaT€€i  xpvaoio  rcVoy  XF^'^  'A^poWfiif . 
dAAd  (7ot  cf  *AXvPr)s  K€ipTJXAa  iroAAa  icoyiioow* 
dpyvpov  dpyvpoTrqxu^  dvaiyrrai.    ccV  o^  ffOfUooM 
8<<>/>a  hiaarlX^vra  <fKpavY€Oi  'H/mBomno*  4fO 

'HAtdSoiv  8*  oAoi'  oA/Soi'  circuaxtw«&  o^  M^f^ 

•  Seexli.  11. 

*  A  rationalization  :   usually  she  b  a 
but  this  was  often  explained  away  as  a 
256 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  393-421 

girdle,  but  attend  Bacchos  both  as  comrade  and  bed- 
fellow. I  myself  will  carry  the  nets  of  your  father 
Adonis,  I  will  lay  the  bed  of  my  sister  Aphrodite. 

396  "  What  worthy  gifts  will  Earthshaker  bring  ? 
Will  he  choose  his  salt  water  for  a  bridegift,  and  lay 
sealskins  breathing  the  filthy  stink  of  the  deep,  as 
Poseidon's  coverlets  from  the  sea  ?  Do  not  accept 
his  sealskins.  I  will  provide  you  with  Bacchants  to 
wait  upon  your  bridechamber,  and  Satyrs  for  your 
chamberlains.  Accept  from  me  as  bridegift  my 
grape-vintage  too.  If  you  want  a  wild  spear  also  as 
daughter  of  Adonis,  you  have  my  thyrsus  for  a  lance 
— away  with  the  trident's  tooth  !  Flee,  my  dear, 
from  the  ugly  noise  of  the  neversilent  sea,  flee  the 
madness  of  Poseidon's  dangerous  love  !  Seabluehair 
lay  beside  another  Amymone,^  but  after  the  bed  the 
wife  became  a  spring  of  that  name.  He  slept  with 
Scylla,  and  made  her  a  chff  in  the  water. ^  He 
pursued  Asterie,^  and  she  became  a  desert  island ; 
Euboia  ^  the  maiden  he  rooted  in  the  sea.  This 
creature  woos  Amymone  just  to  turn  her  too  into 
stone  after  the  bed  ;  this  creature  offers  as  gift  for 
his  wedding  a  drop  of  water,  or  seaweed  from  the 
brine,  or  a  deepsea  conch.  And  I,  distressed  for  your 
beauty  as  I  stand  here,  what  have  I  for  you,  what 
gifts  shall  I  offer  ?  The  daughter  of  golden  Aphro- 
dite needs  no  gold.  Shall  I  bring  you  heaps  of  treas- 
ure from  Alybe  ?  Silverarm  cares  not  for  silver  ! 
Shall  I  bring  you  gleaming  gifts  from  brilhant 
Eridanos  ?     Your  beauty,  your  blushing  whiteness, 

«  See  ii.  125. 

^  The  nymph  after  whom  the  island  was  mythically  named, 

being  named  originally  Maoris  (Long  Island).    Only  Nonnos 

mentions  her  as  Poseidon's  love,  and  the  identification  of  her 

with  the  actual  rock  of  the  island  is  apparently  his  own. 

VOL.  Ill  s  257 


NOVNOS 

XtvKov  €p€vBi6€oaa,  poXtut  5*  dtnrippowoi    n^Bf 
cuccAo;  -qXttcrpip  \Up67js  d^offvaamu  ^'^XJF  •  •  • 
Kal  Xidov  aaTpairrovra-  rtov  XP^  •O^  Wyyt 
fidpfiapa  Ti/xi/cvra-  firi  €U(€Xo¥  tiWomi  A^||M  <• 

Aux^iSa  Goi  KOfiiaoifu,  oiXof  w4fMMQPom  mmpo/* 
fiTj  KoXvKCJv  poB6€yTo^  avatovotFTa  ttopifitfiov 
aol  poSa  hwpa  ^poifu,  poStuwMs  <Mt  vopcuu.*' 
Toiov  €rto^  KartXtft'  koI  ouarot  Molb  jcoiyf 
X€t/>a?  €p€iaafiivrj  &i5u/ui9  <^pa{«r  JiCOpdh»  M 

/X17  TToAit'  oAAoi'  'Hpcirrt  fu/Av^Aora  iMom  4tta49§9 
€pya  ydfAOV  arvyiovaa-  noBofiXt/rt^  hk  hmmi$f 
fMOxO(()  lACyBov  €fu(€.    ri  Kwrr€pi¥  iorw  *E,pwrw¥, 
n  orr€  BvfioPopoio  iroBfn)  Xvaoutbtl  Kimptft 
av^pas  ifi€ipoyTa^  dXvatcdiovoi  yvroMrtf  430 

icoi  n\€Ov  oUrrpov  ayovat  <ja6^pO¥€t; 

_?tJtjfl.*J|lLl       ill 

mwOOftmrOt   Qm 

SmXoos  €<rriv  €p<jj^,  orrt  mifBivot  d»^pa  ft4yu, 
*Qs  6  fi€v  olarprq€VTi  noSav  fuuFrHrro  MfOTi^* 
napd€vuajs  8*  dw€/ufivcv  dpxrpoxlrwi^  hk  '^^'^f'U 
avvSpOfiov  dyptxHJOovra  voov  ir6fiw€V€¥  ^Jbfffip,         MO 

KtVTpOV    €X<JHV    yXvKVTTUCpoV. 

dvtaavfiMvoi  hk  iaXiooift, 

ucfjua  St^KxA€oio  3i*  ovp€09  ^X*'*^  irdUAoir^ 
napOevitcriv  p.dar€V€  Uoati&atMtv  fimwdimft, 
dppoxov  vSaTotirri  7T€pippcuyLJV  x^oKt  rapom' 
Kai  oi  ert  aircvBovri  napd  fcAeraf  €vfioTO¥  Abfr       Mi 
ovp€0^  ojcpa  Kaprjva  Trobcjv  cAcAifcro  voJ^fi^  •  •  • 
€(9  BcpoT^v  oKo-nia^t,  KOi  cV  7ro8o9  ovpt  ira^ijpov 

KOVpTJS    tOra/XOT^f    hl€LUrp€€V    €v6€OV 

o^v  8c  AcTrroAcoio  St    c^xaros*  otn  m 
ofifxaGiv  dnXaveeaai  rvnov  T€KfKup€TO 
old  T€  yvpvwdevTa  irapatcXihw  dscpa 
S58 


DIONYSIACA,  XLir.  422-451 

puts  to  shame  all  the  wealth  of  the  HeHades  ;  the 
neck  of  Beroe  is  Hke  the  gleams  of  Dawn,  it  shines 
hke  amber,  [outshines]  a  sparkUng  jewel ;  your  fair 
shape  makes  precious  marble  cheap.  I  would  not 
bring  you  the  lampstone  blazing  Hke  a  lamp,  for  Ught 
comes  from  your  eyes.  I  would  not  give  you  roses, 
shooting  up  from  the  flowercups  of  a  rosy  cluster, 
for  roses  are  in  your  cheeks." 

*^  Such  was  his  address  ;  and  the  girl  pressed  the 
fingers  of  her  two  hands  into  her  ears  to  keep  the 
words  away  from  her  hearing,  lest  she  might  hear 
again  another  speech  concerned  with  love,  and  she 
hated  the  works  of  marriage.  So  she  made  trouble 
upon  trouble  for  lovestricken  Lyaios.  What  is  more 
shameless  than  love,  or  when  women  avoid  men  who 
yearn  with  the  heart-eating  maddening  urge  of 
desire,  and  only  make  them  more  passionate  by  their 
modesty  ?  The  love  within  them  is  doubled  when 
a  maiden  flees  from  a  man. 

^^  So  he  was  flogged  by  the  maddening  cestus  of 
desire  ;  and  he  kept  away  from  the  girl,  but  full  of 
bittersweet  pangs,  he  sent  his  mind  to  wander 
a-hunting  with  the  girl  with  ungirt  tunic.  Then  out 
from  the  sea  came  Poseidon,  moving  his  wet  footsteps 
in  search  of  the  girl  over  the  thirsty  hills,  a  foreign 
land  to  him,  and  sprinkhng  the  unwatered  earth  with 
watery  foot ;  and  as  he  hasted  along  the  fertile  slope 
of  the  woodland,  the  topmost  peaks  of  the  mountains 
shook  under  the  movement.  .  .  .  He  espied  Beroe, 
and  from  head  to  foot  he  scanned  her  divine  young 
freshness  while  she  stood.  Clear  through  the  filmy 
robe  he  noted  the  shape  of  the  girl  with  steady  eyes, 
as  if  in  a  mirror ;  glancing  from  side  to  side  he  saw 
the  shining  skin  of  her  breasts  as  if  naked,  and  cursed 

259 


NOKNOS 

fia^wv  Kp\mroy,tvwv  ^ovtfrfjv  iwtfUfH^m  fUrpf^, 
hiv€vwv  iXucqhov  €pcjfiayi^  ofi^  wpo0mma9f 
irarrraLvuiv  aKoprjro^  oXov  S^'/iay  oUnpOfUO^  M    IM 
€ivaXirjv  Kv0€p€t€iv  aXof  /mS/oit  hnaixBvm 
fioxOiCo^v  ix€r€iH,  teal  dypavXtft  wap^ 
TTapOtvov  lara^€\n)v  ^tXU^  fiMtXifofro 

"  *EXXdSa  Ko^Xtywauca  yvr^  ^da  wtfoor  A/^Xtt* 
ov  IIa^9,  ovKtTi  \4afio^  arcSrrm,  oMft  K^i^^liD 
ovvofia  koXXltokoio  ^rt^rrcu*  ovtein  ^^iXtfim 
Nd(ov  dtiSofifvrjv  tvndfiStvw'  dXXa  teal  aiti^ 
€19  roKov,  ciV  <o5mxf  ivucrfBt)  AaMtBaifum^' 
ov  llanos',  ovKtn  Atapo^,  *\^Vfu»Mnft  U  TlAl{*^ 
ai^oAiT;  (TvXrja€V  oXov  tcXtot  *Opxofi49oS0,  <• 

fiovvrjv  d^«fn€novaa  fiiay  \apa^'  cmXtniff^  yd^ 
rpiaadojv  Xapirwv  Bcpoiy  pXdarrfot  rtrdpTfi, 
7rapd€V€,  #caAAt7rc  yami',  o  vtp  ^//af*  oi;  cr^  M^f'V 
€K  x'^ovo^  €^darr^€v,  aXo^  Bvydrr)p  *A^po3/nf* 
TTorrov  ^x^t?  cfioi'  cSi'oi'  drtp^va,  /Ki{o»a  yv^ff*   ^^ 
OTTcuaoi'  €pibfiaiv€iv  dXoxtf*  Au>f,  o^p^  nc  ^Strfi» 
oTTi  hdp.ap  Kpoi'iBao  Kai  tMrtf  Uimtnymdm 
TrdvTodi  KOipavioxHJiv ,  cVct  vt/^dtvrof  ^Ok&iunm 
"H/m;  aKTJTrrpov  c^cc,  B^poi;  Kpdrof  lojft  ^JUtf<nyg. 
ou  aoi  BaaaapiSa^-  fia^'Ki^cas*  tyyvoXlfw,  47C 

ot)  Sarvpor  OKaipovra  koI  ov  SciAip^  l^wtfffOW* 
oAAd  TcAcaaiya/ioio  tct};  OaXoftrfnoXoy  €^rijf 
Il/Korca  aoi  #cai  TXavKov  vrrohprqoriyta  TtXioatf 
ScxviHTO  #fat  Nrjprja  koi,  tjv  idtXj)^,  McAar^pn^r* 
/cat  TrAaruv  dcmou  fUTpovfi€VOV  dvrvyt  K6afimf        itO 
'l^covdv  KcAo^oKra  rcdv  $€pdwovra  KoXiaom' 
S60 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  452-481 

the  jealous  bodice  wrapt  about  in  many  folds  which 
hid  the  bosom,  he  ran  his  lovemaddened  eye  round 
and  round  over  her  face,  he  gazed  never  satisfied  on 
her  whole  body.  Then  mad  with  passion  Earth- 
shaker  lord  of  the  brine  appealed  in  his  trouble  to 
Cythereia  of  the  brine,  and  tried  with  flattering 
words  to  make  friends  with  the  maiden  standing 
beside  the  country  flock  : 

^^  "  One  woman  outshines  all  the  lovely  women 
of  Hellas  !  Paphos  is  celebrated  no  longer,  nor 
Lesbos,  Cyprus  no  longer  has  a  name  as  mother  of 
beauty  ;  no  longer  will  I  sing  Naxos  which  the  singers 
call  isle  of  fair  maids  ;  yes,  even  Lacedaimon  is 
worsted  for  children  and  childbirth  !  No  more 
Paphos,  no  more  Lesbos — the  land  of  the  rising  sun, 
Amymone's  nurse,  has  plundered  all  the  glory  of 
Orchomenos,  for  one  single  Grace  of  her  own  !  For 
Beroe  has  appeared  a  fourth  grace,  younger  than 
the  three  ! 

*^  "  Maiden,  leave  the  land.  That  is  just,  for 
your  mother  grew  not  from  the  land,  she  is  Aphrodite 
daughter  of  the  brine.  Here  is  my  infinite  sea  for 
your  bridegift,  larger  than  earth.  Hasten  to  chal- 
lenge the  consort  of  Zeus,  that  men  may  say  that 
the  lady  of  Cronides  and  the  wife  of  Earthshaker  hold 
universal  rule,  since  Hera  has  the  sceptre  of  sno^vy 
Olympos,  Beroe  has  gotten  the  empire  of  the  sea.  I 
will  not  provide  you  with  mad-eyed  Bassarids,  I  will 
give  you  no  dancing  Satyr  and  no  Seilenos,  but  I 
will  make  Proteus  chamberlain  of  your  marriage- 
consummating  bed,  and  Glaucos  shall  be  your  under- 
ling— take  Nereus  too,  and  Mehcertes  if  you  like  ; 
and  I  will  call  murmuring  Oceanos  your  servant, 
broad    Oceanos    girdling    the    rim    of   the    eternal 

261 


NONNOS 

col  trorafioi^  (vfinamnf  iwdopat  Qpor 
ei  h€  Kol  dfuf>in6Xoii  €nir4piwtai,  tli  ok  mofJoom 
Ovyartpas  Nrfprjof'  avaiyofi^  S^  ytv^a&w 
fuxid  ^iwyvaoio  T€rj  &aXa^ffw6Xifg  *Ipw." 

rj€pi  fivSov  €€tnt  x^cor  ^fuuita  ^tmn^' 

*'  MvppTff  6X^14  Kovpf,  Aa^oM^  tihojiZa  ywMhff 
rifirjv  fiovva^  <X't(  hihvfiaova'  ^utOms  iworffir 

Tola  fi€v  €vyoaiyau>i  Ifuiaorro  tt^vropt  «Mrr^* 
iroAAd  5c  hwpa  riraxv€¥  *M<MU  tnX  Kif#ipi%, 
Kovpirjs  €hvov  €purro^,    ofio^X^trnp  5^  fUXiiiP^ 
oXfiov  dywv  Aioii/aof ,  oaov  irapd  yv/ropi  V^eyyg 
Xpvao<f>a€i^  cjSivti  tfiaujoantro  fimiXXbt¥f 
noXXa  fidrqv  uctrtvt  $€iXao<nJrp^  'A^poMnp. 

dfuf>OT€pOV9  tltnrjGTJJpag   th€tbuV'   O/i^Or^pMr  U 

laoTvnoiv  opowoa  rrodov  tcaX  if^Ko¥  *E^c«t«pr 
'Apct  wfuf>ihia)  Bcpi^f  m^/HAffv  ayctfuo 
#ccu  ya/xo»'  alxfirjTrjpa  Koi  l^p6€aoa9  *CnM». 
icoi  fuv  oAt^^  irvKaaacra  ywaorct^  ru4  ir^O|i^ 
KvTrpt;  cV*  dxpoTrdAi^os'  C179  iSpuoaro 
napdevov  ap/fnipiarov  aiBXiov  afipov  *] 

dfJul>OT€pOL9   Sc    ^€OU7(   /iUXV   (ui\i6<ra7t> 

T^V  /i€V   6<l>€lXofJL€VriV   tVOoL^fioift,   Tl^  M   Aooilqp* 

oAA'  cVct  ou  ycvd/xTyi'  5i5u;ii7rdiror,  ot$6^  ffcAnfw 
0€Gfia  ydfiwv  dxpavra  fjuav  (wrfova 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  482-509 

world.  I  give  you  as  a  bridal  gift  all  the  rivers 
together  for  your  attendants.  If  you  are  pleased 
to  have  waitingmaids  also,  I  will  bring  you  the 
daughters  of  Nereus ;  and  let  Ino  the  nurse  of 
Dionysos  be  your  chambermaid,  whether  she  hkes 
it  or  not  !  '* 

*^^  Thus  he  pleaded,  but  the  maiden  was  angry  and 
would  not  listen  ;  so  he  left  her,  pouring  out  his  last 
words  into  the  air — 

^^^  "  Happy  son  of  Myrrha,  you  have  got  a  fine 
daughter,  and  now  a  double  honour  is  yours  alone ; 
you  alone  are  named  father  of  Beroe  and  bridegroom 
of  the  Foamborn." 

*^i  Thus  Earthshaker  was  flogged  by  the  blows  of 
the  cestus ;  but  he  offered  many  gifts  to  Adonis  and 
Cythereia,  bridegifts  for  the  love  of  their  daughter. 
Dionysos  burning  with  the  same  shaft  brought  his 
treasures,  all  the  shining  gold  that  the  mines  near  the 
Ganges  had  brought  forth  in  their  throes  of  labour  ; 
earnestly  but  in  vain  he  made  his  petition  to 
Aphrodite  of  the  sea. 

^^"^  Now  Paphia  was  anxious,  for  she  feared  both 
wooers  of  her  muchwooed  girl.  When  she  saw  equal 
desire  and  ardour  of  love  in  both,  she  announced 
that  the  rivals  must  fight  for  the  bride,  a  war  for  a 
wedding,  a  battle  for  love.  Cypris  arrayed  her 
daughter  in  all  a  woman's  finery,  and  placed  her  upon 
the  fortress  of  her  country,  a  maiden  to  be  fought  for 
as  the  dainty  prize  of  contest.  Then  she  addressed 
both  gods  in  the  same  words  : 

^^  "  I  could  wish  had  I  two  daughters,  to  wed  one 
as  is  justly  due  to  Earthshaker,  and  one  to  Lyaios ; 
but  since  my  child  was  not  twins,  and  the  undefiled 
laws  of  marriage  do  not  allow  us  to  join  one  girl  to  a 

263 


NONNOS 

Ctv^ai  BixOa&ioiaw  ofLOifiaioif  wapoMolfmg,  AlO 

a/z<^t  furj9  dXoxoio  fi6$o^  yvtA^oar6Xos  farm' 
ov  yap  ar€p  Kafidrov  UtpSrj^  ^X^'  <W^  ^  "^K^ 
dfjufxv  d€dX€vooirt  ydfiov  vpowlXtvBw  iyAm' 
OS  8c  K€  viKr}a€i»  Btpdnrjv  aycic8i*or  dyMm  .  .  . 
dfi<t>oT€pois  ifuXos  opKo^'  hnl  irf^tScdia  nco^jpiyf      AUI 
y€irovos  dfi^  troXtjoi,  oirjj  woXioOxof  <i#roMu, 
TrarpiSa  fir^  hfporjs  li^por)^  Sui  ir^AAor  dMbow* 
GxwBtalas  TTpd  ydfioio  rtXiaaart,  fiif  fierA  )fil^i|r 
TToi^ioy  ewoaiyaias  dT€fifi6fi€vot  vtpl  r^n^ 
yatai'  atarcoacicv  €rjs  yAa;x*»'«  rpuianrff,  UO 

fji-q  Kor4wv  Aiowaos  *Afivfuuyfif  irtpi.  Xitcrptt¥ 
dar€os  dpLn€X6€aaav  dpLoXSwtifv  oAcinfr. 
€vpL€V€€s  ^€  ymoOt  fura  t(X&vQ¥'  d^t^^fnp^  ^ 
iftiXrpov  IrjXov  c^oi^cf  ofio^poawrff  M  B^Ofn^ 
KdXXel  <l>aiSpor4pw  Koofitfaart  narpSba  viSft^f^'*'     'V 
*Q$  if>api€vr)s  fivrjarrjpti  i-rrjjtto^'  dft^tndpotif  M 

icai  Sn^iai  paOdfiiyyts'  tTriaTwafurro  H  MoSjpai 
Guvdiaias'  koX  Arjpts  di^tro  no^w^  *Epmrum 
Koi  KXovos' 

dpxf>or€povs  hk  yo/xoaroAo;  unrXun  TimBm,      890 
ovpav6$€v  5c  fioXoyrts  dnt'n€vr^p€9  ^yAfOf 
(Tvv  All  7rdirr€9  €pLip,vov,  oaot  va€Trjp€S  *OXifi'mHff 
pLdprrvp€S  vcrpLivrjs  AiPayrf&os  vipoSi  nirpnifs. 

"Ei^a  (l>dvT)  fitya  arjfia  iroBopXifnit  Aaamiotp' 
KipKOS  dcAAijcis*  x^°^^^^  trrtpov  ryxvo^  ojjpif;         SU 
pouKopL€vrjv  cSuuKc  TrcAcio^a*  r^v  ^  ns  if^ni 
€#f  x^^^^^  dpnd^as  dXiaUros  ciV  ^w<Wi»  ^*Tlf» 
<l>€L8ofi€voLs  oi'vx€aai  pLtrdpaiov  6pv%»  atipmif* 
264 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  510-538 


pair  of  husbands  together  change  and  change  about, 
let  battle  be  chamberlain  for  one  single  bride,  for 
without  hard  labour  there  is  no  marriage  with  Beroe. 
Then  if  you  would  wed  the  maid,  first  fight  it  out 
together  ;  let  the  winner  lead  away  Beroe  without 
brideprice.  Both  must  agree  to  an  oath,  since  I  fear 
for  the  girl's  neighbouring  city  where  I  am  known  as 
Cityholder,  that  because  of  Beroe 's  beauty  I  may  lose 
Beroe 's  home.  Make  treaty  before  the  marriage,  that 
seagod  Earthshaker  if  he  lose  the  victory  shall  not 
in  his  grief  lay  waste  the  land  with  his  trident's 
tooth ;  and  that  Dionysos  shall  not  be  angry  about 
Amymone's  wedding  and  destroy  the  vineyards  °  of 
the  city.  And  you  must  be  friends  after  the  battle : 
both  be  rivals  in  singlehearted  affection,  and  in  one 
contract  of  goodwill  adorn  the  city  of  the  bride  with 
still  more  brilliant  beauty." 

^26  The  wooers  agreed  to  this  proposal.  Both  took 
a  binding  oath,  by  Cronides  and  Earth,  by  Sky  and  the 
floods  of  Styx  ;  and  the  Fates  formally  witnessed 
the  bargain.  Then  Strife  grew  greater  to  escort  the 
Loves,  and  Turmoil  also ;  Persuasion  the  handmaid 
of  marriage,  armed  them  both.  From  heaven  came 
all  the  dwellers  on  Olympos,  with  Zeus,  and  stayed 
to  watch  the  combat  upon  the  rocks  of  Lebanon. 

^^  Then  appeared  a  great  portent  for  lovestricken 
Dionysos.  A  storms wift  falcon  was  in  chase  of  a 
feeding  pigeon ;  he  drooped  his  breeze-impregnated 
wings, *>  when  suddenly  an  osprey  caught  up  the 
pigeon  from  the  ground  and  flew  to  the  deep,  holding 

<»  How  there  came  to  be  any  so  early  as  that  Nonnos  does 
not  explain,  f'^ui^    i«  v*>k,«,j     !.Wa*^    j-k«  C*v*i»  *     »  t^,«.    *»-9'^ 

*  i.e.  he  was  just  dropping  on  the  pigeon,  when  the  eagle  * ' 
came  under  with  a  swoop  sideways  and  caught  it. 

265 


NONNOS 

€fnrr)9  3*  «tff  fioOov  "^Xdtv, 


266 


DIONYSIACA,  XLII.  539-542 

the  bird  high  in  gentle  talons.  When  Dionysos  beheld 
this,  he  cast  away  hope  of  victory  ;  nevertheless  he 
entered  the  fray.  Father  Cronion  was  pleased  with 
the  contest  of  these  two,  as  he  watched  from  on 
high  the  match  between  his  brother  and  his  son  with 
smiling  eye. 


267 


AIOMTIAKHN  TESrAPAKOITrON 
TPITON 

At^co  rtaaapojcoarov  in  TpiTt>¥, 
*'\p€a  taffiarotvTa  teal  a^trcAocooov 

"Q?  o  n€v  iyp€Kv^oifu>^  'hfmt,  ^X^^^tY^  *F^ii»i 

icai  yafJLiov  noXtfUHO  6tfi4iXui  ir^cy  *EnM»* 

icai  kXovov  aWvoawv  tvooix^*^  «fal  Aionfay 

dovpos  c-qv  *Tfi^vcuo9,  ^?  vafiunrjv  hi  icytAw 

;^aAif€o»'  €yxo^  a€ip€V  *AfiVKXairf^  ^K^piMfffi, 

"Ap^o^  apfiovirjv  ^pvyiat  fivKiufi4vof  aiX^, 

Kal  ^arvpwv  paaiXrji  Kai  i7»'io;^  ^oXdotHfi 

napdeyos  ^cv  d€6Xoy  di-aa-o^Uvi)  M  mWM§ 

clvaXiov  fiinjarijpos  'X****  f^'ravfUmo^  cJl^  10 

vypov  xmoppvxiuiv  <Vc&<i3i€  ytu/Toy  ^Eptirtt^t 

Kal  nXdov  rj6€X€  hajcxov  iucro  hi  ^jpaP€i(ffj, 

yj  noT€  wp.(j>Lhioio  ntpiPpofUovro^  oyfMfOf 

•qdeXcv  'WpaKXrjaf  Kal  doraBtos  myrnfUHO 

ioraro  Seifialvovaa  pooKpalpov^  vfitvalovf.  IB 

Kat  hpofiov  axnoKiXivorov  ixojv  iXuctiahti  ^'filf 
dw€<f>€Xos  aaXfTt^c  /icAoj  TroAc/xiJiOV  al0^' 
Kal  pXoavpov  p,vKT]p,a  x^<^v  Xwraw^i  Xoi^i^* 
Aoavplw  TpioBovrt,  Kopvaatro  Kvavovavnff, 
acltov  TTovTiov  €yxos.    aTTciAiJaoy  hi  uaXdaofi  9B 


BOOK  XLIII 

Look  again  at  the  forty-third,  in  which  I  sing  a  war 
of  the  waters  and  a  battle  of  the  vine. 

So  battlestirring  Ares,  who  leads  the  channel  for 
Love,  shouted  the  warcry  to  prepare  for  the  bridal 
combat.  Enyo  laid  the  foundations  of  the  war  for  a 
wedding  :  and  lusty  Hymenaios  was  he  that  kindled 
the  quarrel  for  Earthshaker  and  Dionysos — he  danced 
into  the  battle,  holding  the  bronze  pike  of  Amyclaian 
Aphrodite,**  while  he  drooned  a  tune  of  war  on  a 
Phrygian  hoboy.  For  King  of  Satyrs  and  Ruler  of  the 
Sea,  a  maiden  was  the  prize.  She  stood  silent,  but  re- 
luctant to  have  a  foreign  wedding  with  a  wooer  from 
the  sea  ;  she  feared  the  watery  bower  of  love  in  the 
deep  waves,  and  preferred  Bacchos  :  she  was  like 
Deianeira,  who  once  in  that  noisy  strife  for  a  bride 
preferred  Heracles,  and  stood  there  fearing  the 
wedding  with  a  fickle  bullhorn  River.  ^ 

1®  Heaven  unclouded  by  its  own  spinning  whirl 
trumpeted  a  call  to  war  ;  and  Seabluehair  armed 
himself  with  his  Assyrian  trident,  shaking  his  mari- 
time pike  and  pouring  a  hideous  din  from  a  mad 
throat.     Dionysos  threatening  the  sea  danced  into 

<»  The  Armed  Aphrodite  ;  "  Amyclaian  "  loosely  for 
Spartan. 

"  An  allusion  to  Sophocles,  Track.  9-27,  cf.  ibid.  503-530. 

269 


NOVSOS 

firjTpo^  op€aaiv6fioio  naBrmtvof  ^ipuart    Pf/nr 
Kai  Tiy  a€(oti€yr)  napa  MvyMfOf  imvya  8/fjpOM 
dfiTTcAos  ai>TOT<AcaTo^  oAoi'  5^fuif  Icnrcvc  Bajryov, 
PooTpvxO'  fiiTpiijaacni  Karaaicui  <yv{iry«  wgi»y' 
Kal  Tiy  yTTO  {vyo^ca/ia  ntpinXoteo¥  aij^iim  ml 
Or^aXi^i  xBovo^  axpa  Xiotv  ixapd^Qiro  T9^9^, 

Kal  Ppabv9  tfrnv^wv  iXi^f  napa  ythom  w^yj, 
opdiov  dyydfinroio  noSo^  OT^piyy^  icoW^^f^ 
op^piov  d(aAcoM7tv  cUif^uof  wU<m»  VM|p» 
KoX  nooxoas  ^paivt-  KovtOfjAw¥  M  fodtm 
Tnfyairjv  dxirojva  fitrifyayt  hv^^Za  Ndpi^kir* 
Kai  Oto^  Cypofithwv  itcopvoorro'  fhipmotm  U 


^v  kXovo^'  ucfiaXtoi  hi  SaXaaoaUti^  M^ 

datfiot'Cf  iaroaroinvTO'  rtunnrr6pBot9  hkjtpf4^%fimt 

Bwfia  Uoo€ioawvo9  Ipaatnro,  itottm 

KoX  x^ovtov  Ao^o<vT09  dpaoaofUvov 

•qfi€piB€9  Aifidvoio  /x«royAi{orro  rpia^v* 

#cat  ri^a  PouKOfitimjv  fLtAav6xPOO¥  if^$^ 

€19  po€Tjv  dycAf}!'  WootSfHov  aX^rt  kifip^ 

Svidhcs  €ppa>ovro'  rawyA'hyoio  6^  Ttt^pOV 

17  fi€v  €<f>a7rTop,€VT)  pdxiy  €Qxyt¥,  ^  si  fifrttfVOV 

bixOahirj9  drtWicTa  BUBXaoiv  dxpa  K€paifff 

Kai  TiS"  dAoiT^TTjpi  5iCT/xay<  yaaripa  Bvpatp' 

dXXr)  nXcvpov  crc/x^v  oAot"  /3oo;*  i}fii6lBUn|f  M 

VTTTios  avroKvXiaT09  intuiKXaat  ravpOfg  iifoiffj^' 

KOX  P069  dpTiToyuoto  KvXipSo^voiO  KO¥i» 

17  fi€v  onioBi^iovs  no^s  ccnraacv,  1}  M  XnBo9ou 

npou6i8U)V9  €pv€aK€,  TToXtHrrpo^dXiyyt  M  /mtJ 

opdiov  €G<f>aipoHT€V  €s  Tftpa  Si{trya  XT^^'^* 

KoU    OT^Tt^9    ^lOWQOi    €K6afl€€l^    I^IAOHfOCf 

270 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  21-52 

the  fray  with  vineleaves  and  thyrsus,  seated  in  the 
chariot  of  his  mother  mountainranging  Rheia  ;  and 
round  the  rim  of  the  Mygdonian  car  was  a  vine  self- 
grown,  which  covered  the  whole  body  of  Bacchos,  and 
girdled  its  overshadowing  clusters  under  entwined 
ivy.  A  lion  shaking  his  neck  entwined  under  the 
yokestrap  scratched  the  earth's  surface  with  sharp 
claw,  as  he  let  out  a  harsh  roar  from  snarling  lips. 
An  elephant  slowly  advanced  to  a  spring  hard  by, 
striking  straight  into  the  ground  his  firm  unbending 
leg,  lapped  the  rainwater  with  parched  lips  and  dried 
up  the  stream ;  and  as  the  waters  became  bare 
earth,  he  drove  elsewhere  the  Nymph  of  the  spring 
thirsty  and  uncovered. 

^  Meanwhile,  the  lord  of  the  waters  prepared  for 
conflict.  There  was  confusion  among  the  Nereids ;  the 
deities  of  the  waters  came  from  the  stretches  of  the 
sea  to  form  array.  Poseidon's  house,  the  water  of 
the  sea,  was  flogged  with  long  bunches  of  leaves  ;  the 
caverns  of  the  mountains  were  shaken  by  the  trident, 
and  the  vines  of  Lebanon  were  rooted  up.  With  wild 
leaps  the  Thyiades  threw  themselves  upon  a  herd  of 
black  cattle  of  Poseidon's,  feeding  near  the  sea.  One 
with  a  touch  cut  through  the  back  of  a  glaring  bull, 
another  sheared  off  from  its  forehead  the  two  stiff"  pro- 
jecting horns,  one  pierced  the  belly  with  destroying 
thyrsus,  another  slit  the  whole  side  of  the  creature  : 
halfdead  the  bull  sank  down  and  rolled  helpless  on 
his  back  on  the  ground — as  he  rolled  in  the  dust 
with  these  fresh  wounds,  one  pulled  off  his  hind 
legs,  one  tugged  at  the  forefeet,  and  threw  up 
the  two  hooves  tumbling  over  and  over  straight  up 
in  the  air. 

^2  Then  Dionysos  mustered  his  captains,  and  made 

271 


NOKNOS 

mo?  *Ep€vBaXtwitK,  o%'  rjpoatv  fyyfS^  TuS^om  M 

<I>vAAi5o9  dy/MxuAotatt'  o/i4Ai)oaf  iSyi«Mi/Mr 
rrjs  8*  €T€^?  yyetro  /ifAo/jfO*^  'EXuaim^ 
^av6o<f>vr)<;  poSiijai  vaprjiaiy,  <Sfi^  ft^  ^**^ 

OtVoTTtoii'  Tfurdrri^t  l.rdi^vXos  wpOf»Ax*ii  rrrnprfft,  m 
Otvofidov  hvo  rdtcva,  ^iXoMpitfroto  TOff^Of* 


oi/  r€K€V  Olvunnj  Kiaarndf,  a|4^ 

^VToXirj^  TrAcfaoa  &vutO€of  oitpa  ■tn^twi 

OTrdpyava  fiorpvotvra  nipif  €iXi(aro  f^^r^,  M 

ro(7;  Kiooo^poiatv  oiortvouoa  BMwfOtt 
avvSpo^o^  d/iTrcAo<rrt  ^oXay(  itnfiomwo  BdUrx^. 
Kat  arpany^v  6top7j(€  x^oir  Aaoo9^  ^X"^* 

"  BaaaaptSc;.  p.dpvaa6€'  tcopvaooft^vem^  Avalem  70 

dvrirxmov  <^cyf  airo  /x/Aof  fwtc^ro^  le^A^, 
fcat  5i5u/xoi9  Trard/oiai  ndBov  voAiC^poor  i)g(«# 
TV/XTrai'a  Soinn/aeicv*  'EitKiAap  M  Xpp^Am^ 
TXavKov  oLorcvatu  h\dpu*y  prff^tpopi  Mjpo<q»*  7A 

*coi  TrXoKayjovs  Wpotrrio^  di/i0c&  &i|oaT«  m^o^f* 
fccu  Oapcou  Trdin^oco  Atncov  Aiyvvnov  vSoip, 
V€PplBa  TToiKiXovojTov  t^ui^  firTQ.  hdpfMTa  ^titnff, 
aux^Va  KvpTu>a€i€v  tfioi  Bpaaw'  Ci  Mfomi  hi, 
JletX-qvw  /jLfOvoirn  KopvaataBw  MfAiielpnff  tO 

Kal  va4T7)v  TfiatXoio  /icrd  fipu6€yrag  imiO^s  tl 

yr)paX€ov  ^opKuva  8t8df arc  BfSpaoi^  Atiftw,  tt 

d/xTrcAoci?  Sc  ycwtTo  ytpatv  ;(c/xraux  oAoMlfr* 
fcai  2dn;/)09  p-evt^oLpp-fx;  lov  vdp$vft 
272 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  53-83 

five  divisions  for  the  watery  conflict.  The  first  line 
was  led  by  him  of  the  vine,  Cilician  Oineus,  son  of 
Ereuthalion,  whom  he  begat  near  the  Tauros  of 
Phyllis,  in  the  open  air.  The  second  was  led  by 
blackhair  Helicaon,  a  blond  man  with  rosy  cheeks, 
and  long  curls  of  hair  hanging  down  over  his  neck. 
Oinopion  led  the  third,  Staphylos  stood  before 
the  fourth,  two  sons  of  a  tippling  sire,  Oinomaos; 
Melantheus  was  captain  of  the  fifth,  an  Indian  chief 
and  the  son  of  Oinone  the  Ivy-nymph  :  his  mother 
had  wrapt  her  boy  in  leafy  tips  of  the  sweet-smelling 
vine  for  swaddlings,  and  bathed  her  son  in  the  wine- 
press teeming  with  strong  drink.  Such  was  the  host 
armed  with  missiles  of  ivy  which  followed  Bacchos 
the  vinegod  ;  and  when  he  had  armed  them,  Bacchos 
called  to  the  host  in  stirring  tones  : 

70  "  Fight,  Bassarids  !  When  Lyaios  is  under 
arms,  let  my  pipes  of  horn  strike  up  a  warlike 
tune,  answering  the  booming  sound  of  the  conch, 
let  the  cymbals  of  bronze  beat  a  loud  noise  with 
double  clashings.  Let  Maron  dancing  in  battle 
shoot  Glaucos  with  manbreaking  thyrsus.  Go,  tie 
up  the  hair  of  Proteus  with  ivy,  something  new  for 
him  !  Let  him  leave  the  Egyptian  water  of  the 
Pharian  Sea,  and  change  his  sealskins  for  a  speckled 
fawnskin,  and  bow  his  bold  neck  to  me.  Let  Meli- 
certes  fight  against  drunken  Seilenos,  if  he  can. 
Teach  old  Phorcys  to  leave  the  seaweedy  deeps 
and  dwell  in  Tmolos  holding  a  thyrsus,  and  let  the 
old  man  become  a  vinegrower  on  land.  Let  the 
Satyr  stand  fast  and  brandish  his  fennel,  and  with 
VOL.  Ill  T  273 


NOKNOS 

bultaX€ov  Nrjpfja  /icrcumjo***  BaXdaam 
dypavXoiS  rraXdfirfoi'  #ceu  dpri^uTW¥  um^  tc^mttm 
pourpvxa  furpwaaaSi  IIaAa4^UN)Off  o&wt  ^^^/^t 
Kal  fuv  tmoSfrjaaoyra  ^ur   'lo^/44^ftof  fiMw  a^iofi 
TTovTiov  rjvioxrja  Kouiaaart  liwrian  'P**I?» 
iivoXixi  fidoTiyi  KvptfMnfnipa  Aforrttir* 
ov  yap  ifjLov  Kara  novrov  dvt^M^  tMr*  idoow} 
ddpr^aui  5c  <f>aXayya  5opmriyroio  ^Xit 
v€PpCSt.  Koap.r)d€iaav  dn€u>^Tj/o%  oi  Nl 
KVfipaXa  NvjpctScaaiv  S^aaaan'  fufart 
'TbpidBag-  BtrtSoi  S4,  Koi  ci  yhot  i^fi  i 
fJLOvvrj9  (€ivo^KOiO  SuXafart  oA§ta 


X^paaiTj  &€  ^awum  avi4uwopot  EUU  BdU(X9 

KoX  fivOir)  Ilat^cta  rtvafa^vfi  fiffiam  iX^t:>ft 
Poorpvxa  fJUTpcja€t€v  tx^Mftm  ftfiffafiw* 
Ei^d€Tj  8*  cUVovoa  irtpUpora  pimrpa  0€xMm* 
Kol  nodov  laov  €xovaa¥  ip€i»§uu4o¥n  icai  adr^ 
rU  v€fi€ais  raAdrciov  vnoSaijootw  Aumiotf, 
IBvov  *Afivfiwyrjs  BaXafLffiroXo¥  ^^jpa  rgJUbvy 
iaronovw  naXaprj  \ifiavifi&i  ir/vAor  dMoon; 
oAAd  y€vos  ^rjpTJo^  cdoarc*  norrom6pomg  yop 
SpxoiSas  ovK  cWAoi,  \i€poj)  firi  irjXoif  4vupm. 
KOI  KOfiowv  yXoix^^^  rahnmropdow  furwwotf 
Udv  €p.6s  ovp€ai4>oiro^  drtux^i  X^ifH  wWCcgr 
dr^aXej)  7rA7jfct€   \\oG€iBdu»va  Kfpaifj, 
aripvov  p.€aGarioio  rvxtjv  €VKa^n40w  al)^uus 
rj  OKoneXco  Ao^ociti,  ^lapp^tit  b4  j^nAfluip 
hiGao<f>vrj  TpiTwvog  ofio^vya  tcvifXo¥  lUtdifBrfs, 
TXavKos  dXipp€KTOio  Sidtcropo^  iwoatytUav 
3dKX(p  U7roSp-q<ra€u ,  ntpucpora  X^pohf  ^Iptttf 
274 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIIL  84-116 

his  countryman's  hands  transport  thirsty  Nereus  out 
of  the  sea  ;  enwreath  Palaimon's  hair  with  bonds 
of  vine  from  newly  planted  gardens,  and  bring  that 
charioteer  of  the  sea  from  the  depths  of  the  Isthmian 
brine  to  be  a  servant  for  Mother  Rheia  and  to  guide 
her  lions  with  his  whip,  for  I  will  no  longer  leave  my 
cousin  in  the  deep  :  I  will  behold  the  host  of  the 
spearconquered  sea  decked  out  in  the  fawnskin. 
Give  cymbals  to  the  inexperienced  Nereid  Nymphs, 
mingle  Hydriads  with  Bacchants — spare  only  the 
hospitable  house  of  goddess  Thetis,  although  she  is 
one  of  the  seabrood.  Fit  the  unshod  feet  of  Leuco- 
thea  in  buskins  ;  let  Doris  appear  on  dry  land  and 
lift  my  mystic  torch  along  with  the  revelling  Bac- 
chants ;  let  Panopeia  shake  off  the  seaweed  of  the 
deep  and  wreathe  her  locks  in  clustering  vipers  ;  let 
Eidothea  unwilling  receive  the  rattling  tambourine. 
What  harm  is  there  that  Galateia  should  be  servant 
to  Dionysos,  when  she  has  a  passion  like  his  own  mad 
love,  that  her  hands  may  make  a  woven  robe  as  a 
gift  for  the  wedding  pomp  of  Amymone  the  queen 
of  Lebanon  ? — No,  leave  alone  the  family  of  Nereus  ; 
for  I  want  no  handmaids  from  the  sea,  or  Beroe 
might  be  jealous. 

1^  "  Let  Pan  my  old  mount ainranger,  proud  with 
the  longbranching  points  on  his  forehead,  press 
Poseidon  with  unarmed  hand  and  butt  him  with 
sharp  horn,  strike  him  full  in  the  chest  with  those 
curving  prongs,  or  with  a  rocky  stone,  let  him  break 
with  his  hooves  the  ring  of  Triton's  backbone  where 
his  two  natures  join.  Let  Glaucos  the  attendant 
of  brinesoaken  Earthshaker  be  servant  to  Bacchos, 
and  lift  in  his  hands  the  rattling  cymbals  of  Rheia 

^  So  MSS. :  Ludwich  etaeVi  vdaaco. 

275 


NONNOS 

avx^vuo  rtXayuuivt  naprqopa  n^ira»a  'Ptffff. 

ov  fjLOvvT)^  S€porj^  7T€pifA.dpvfiftai,  dXXa.  teal  adrift 

larafi€vrjv  drivaKrov  aXof  ^hitjom  ivwAyfitm^  110 

elvaXirjv  7T€p  €ovaav,  dfuMwtu  rpuwfjn, 
oTTi  KopvaaoyLfvift  Bcaprjfonai'  d^A^on^or  yJif, 
€t  Xdx€  y€iTOva  noyrov,  cx<t  ^vr6i  l**!^  BdgjpWS 
vUrj^  T)p.€r(pq^  arfp-qiov'  dyx^^^^O^  y^  •   •   • 
oAAa  naXaior€p7jv  p€rd   floAA^Sa  itdffTVp^  B^'On*  ^ 
KiKpcHJt  aAAo9  ucocro  hucaandXot,  ^4p^  *^  a4n| 
dp-TreXo^  aciSoiro  tf^pttrroXif,  wf  wtp  iXahi. 
Koi  rroAto^  rcAcaa;  irtpov  rvno¥  oC  |iir  V<(o«tf 
iyyvi  dXds,  Kpai-adi  hi  rx^AW¥  pdf0ma  moXmimg 
Y€iTova  hrjptrroio  yt^potow  puB6tf  aXfOfgt  ISO 

Xtpoioaas  OKontXouny  dXof  9trpov§iMPO¥  viofp* 
rp-qxaX^rj  Bt  KtXfvdof  lad^mu  6(di  $6pa^, 
dXXd  irdXiv  pApvaadtt  \\tpaXX&¥tt,  i(M&  wittm 
dapaaXtar  Krapivwv  hk  vtdppvrov  tj^  Vtymmtm 
v€ppU  €/xi7  fjL€6€7Tov<Ta  fuXtuvrnu*  cWn  h*  a^r^    US 
dvToXiT]  rpopi€i  p€,  kqX  tU  94^am  a^x^  KA^iwrti 
*lvS6s  "Ap-qs,  Bpopiu}  Si  Xin^ata  hdxpva  XUfimf 
bdKpva  KvpxiTotVTa  ytpcjv  i^pi^v^  ITUffVllf. 
icat  hi€priv  p€rd  &rjpiv  €x<ov  Ai/3avi|0a  w^^^lp 
€v  y€pas  Ipelpovri  xo^p^^opuu  tvpoatyaltp'  140 

^v  €d€Xr},  ^cA^ctev  c/uuk  {>p€vtua¥  'E^MiTttir, 
fiovvov  €pfj  Bc/x%  ^17  bdxfuoy  oppta  rap4oajg." 

Totov  €7709  ^carcAcfcv  dntiXrpyjpi  M  pMtp 
K€pTop€(jjv  ^lowaov  dp€ifi€ro  tcvayoxahrif' 

**  AiB6p€vos,  Aiowwc,  tcopvoaopoA,  &m  rpuwnis  14$ 

*  t.«.  as  King  Cccrops  decided  in  tkroor  of 
276 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  117-145 

which  hang  by  a  strap  beside  his  neck.  Not  for  Beroe 
alone  I  fight,  but  for  the  native  city  of  my  bride. 
Earthshaker  must  not  strike  it,  but  it  must  stand 
unshaken,  although  it  lies  in  the  sea  and  he  is  lord 
of  the  sea — he  must  not  destroy  it  with  his  trident 
because  I  will  face  him  in  arms  :  it  is  as  much  one 
as  the  other — if  the  sea  is  its  neighbour,  it  has  ten 
thousand  plants  of  mine,  a  sign  of  my  victory  ;  for 
close  to  the  shore  [are  my  vineyards].  But  as  for 
Pallas  of  old,  so  for  the  appeal  of  Bacchos,  may  a  new 
Cecrops  come  as  umpire,  that  the  vine  may  be  cele- 
brated as  citysustainer,  like  the  olive."  Then  I  will 
make  the  city  of  another  shape  :  I  will  not  leave  it 
near  the  sea,  but  I  will  cut  off  rugged  hills  with  my 
fennel  and  dam  up  the  deep  brine  beside  Berytos, 
making  the  water  dry  land  and  stony  with  rocks,  and 
the  rough  road  is  smoothed  by  the  sharp  thyrsus. 

133  "  Come,  fight  again,  Mimallones,  confident  in 
your  constant  victory — my  fawnskin  is  red  with  the 
newly-shed  blood  of  slain  Giants,^  the  very  east  still 
trembles  before  me,  Indian  Ares  bows  his  neck  to 
the  ground,  old  Hydaspes  shivers,  and  sheds  tears 
of  supplication,  tears  like  his  own  flood  !  When  I 
have  won  my  bride  of  Lebanon  after  the  battle  in 
the  sea,  I  grant  one  boon  to  Earthshaker  the  lover. 
If  he  will,  he  may  sing  a  song  at  my  wedding,  only 
let  him  not  look  askance  at  my  Beroe." 

1*3  So  spoke  Dionysos  ;  and  Seabluehair  replied  in 
threatening  tones  and  mocked  at  him  : 

1*^  "  I  am   ashamed  to  confront  you,   Dionysos, 

she  and  Poseidon  strove  for  Attica,  so  let  someone  in  authority 
decide  that  Berytos  belongs  to  Dionysos  and  not  Poseidon, 

''  Some  confusion  on  Nonnos's  part ;  the  victory  over  the 
Giants  is  not  till  book  xlviii. 

277 


NONSOS 
rjptaag  alxfJirirrjpi  <f>vya}v  PovnXrjya  Aiwwwlyvmr        140 

KoAd  ^lAofciVoi  (oMxy/Ma  SoiJrf  tfa^£inF|y*  IM 

ovK  dyafMai  nor€  roOro,  a€XcuT^6p€' 

ufiTpQ^6mw  yap     U7 
€K  TTvpo^  ipXaarriaa^,  odtv  wpii  i(ta  |S/{<«ff. 
aXXd,  <t>LXoi  TpiTwv€^,  dfm(art,  hi/joan  BdKX^g 
TTovroTTopov^  r€\iaayT€^'  ip€oawSXom  Zk  ^opfifot       UO 
rvunava  }L,€iXrivoio  icaraxAi/{oiTO  0aXtiaa^, 
Kvpxxn  Gvpo^€voio,  Koi  oihaivwni  ^4$p^ 
vr)xofi€vov  'Larvpoio  ^iXtikof  oM^ 


cts*  nXoov  avrotXucTov  iv  Mhpff^  hk  §i(tXMpm 
3aaoapiB€9  aropdatuiv  iftii¥  A^(Of  Wf4  Ammov.      IW 
ov  ;(arca>  'LarvpoiV,  oi;  SiauMof  tli  filMt   OUctf* 
Ni7p<i5f9  ycyaoaci'  d^a>i>«(*  dXXA  Miitraji 
Si^oAcai  KpuTrroivro  Mi/ioAA^i^r,  o&wo){tfrp»  M 

Ktti  Tt9  €XatnfOfi€V'Tj  hi€pij  Upurnjof  djcwicg  160 

Baaaapt?  airroK^vAiorrof  oAiO^i^ofM  6laAiloO|||, 
6pxr)0fi6v  Oaydroio  tcvPiaiijuuaa  AnfaXip,  Ifl 

AlBiOTTwv  hk  <^aAayya9  tpvaaart  teal  crriyaf  *Iii6c«r»  les 
AT^iSa  Nr^pciScaai,  icaxoyA<i^ac70iO  5^  M^A^fiK 
AcopiSi  3ouAta  TCKva  Kofiujoart  Kaao%tW€i^, 
TTOLvrjv  o^ircAcoToi'-  dfuufiotcdrtft  bi  fit^^pt^ 
^ClKeavog  Twpofvra  AcAou/icfoi'  daripa,  luii^iyr» 
Xrjvalrjs  TrpoKiXivBov  dxoifnjToio  xoptifft,  170 

Zctpiov  a/xTTcAdeiTa  /x<ra<m/acicv  'OAvytvov. 
oAAd  oru,  Av8t€  Bcuc^c,  x^P^^o*^  BvpoQ^  iioKk^ 
hit,€6  Goi  pcXo^  dXXo,  KOI  atoXa  ^'pfiara  vtfipc^ 
Kdrdeo,  Giov  fi^Xdwv  oXiyov  oK^iras'  odca^lov  hi 
ci  <7c  Aios  yafiiTj  fuiuoaaTo  wyu^thiii  ^U(,  m 

dpri  TTvpl  nroXefuC€,  ttu/ht/k^j,  6ftn  tnpawA 
278 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  146-176 

because  you  want  to  fight  the  swinger  of  the  trident, 
when  you  fled  from  Lycurgos's  poleaxe  !  Look  here, 
Thetis  !  Here  is  a  fine  return  for  fife  and  safety 
that  your  fugitive  Dionysos  gives  to  the  hospitable 
sea  !  I  am  not  surprised,  Torchbearer :  fire  killed 
your  mother  when  you  were  born,  so  you  act  Hke 
the  fire. 

149  •*  Up^  niy  dear  Tritons,  help — tie  up  the  Bac- 
chants and  make  them  seafarers  !  May  the  cymbals 
that  mountainharboured  Seilenos  holds  be  swallowed 
up  in  the  sea,  may  the  wave  drag  him  along,  may  the 
Satyr  float  on  the  swelHng  flood  and  his  Euian  pipe 
toss  on  the  rolling  water  ;  may  Bassarids  lay  the 
bed  for  me  instead  of  Lyaios  in  my  watery  hall. — 
Nay,  I  want  no  Satyrs,  I  drag  no  Mainads  to  the 
deep  :  Nereids  are  better.  But  let  the  Mimallones 
quench  their  thirst  in  the  sea  and  drown  there  ; 
instead  of  flowing  draughts  of  wine  let  them  drink 
my  salt  water.  Let  many  a  Bassarid  driven  by  the 
wet  pike  of  Proteus  drift  and  toss  aimlessly  on  the 
sea,  tripping  the  dance  of  death  for  Lyaios.  Drag 
down  companies  of  Ethiopians  and  ranks  of  Indians  as 
spoil  for  the  Nereids  ;  bring  the  daughters  of  nymph 
Cassiepeia,"  that  tongue  of  e\dl,  as  slaves  for  Doris 
in  tardy  expiation.  Let  Oceanos  banish  viny  Seirios 
from  Olympos,  the  leader  of  that  unresting  dance 
in  the  winepress,  and  bathe  in  his  resistless  flood 
the  fiery  star  of  Maira. 

i'^^  "  And  you,  Lydian  Bacchos,  leave  your  miser- 
able thyrsus  and  seek  you  another  weapon  ;  put  off" 
your  speckled  fawnskins,  the  scanty  covering  of  your 
limbs.  If  in  that  marriage  the  wooing  flame  of  Zeus 
was  your  midwife,  now  fight  with  fire,  O  fireborn !  now 

«  See  XXV.  135. 

279 


NONNOS 

Trarpaxt)  irpofidxiCf  tcvP€ptnfrrjpi  rpudmfft, 

Kal  OTcponriv  irot^fc  koI  aiyi&a  itdXXi  TWcfef 

ov  yap  Arjpia&rj^  a€  p.4v€i  np^ftot,  od  Afmoopyonf 

o^os  dydfv,  \Apafiwv  6Xiyof  fi6Bot,  iiXXk  BaMawjg  ItO 

ToaaaTiTj^.    rpofitwv  5<  «rai  fWn  w^Tior  aixFv*' 

ovpavos  rifi€r(prjv  PvBirjv  ScSaiyirfv  *ErMa* 

Kal  TTpopLOS  if^uctXtvBo^  ipLfff  TpMo¥TOf  aJCOMC^ 

ntipijOrj  Oac'^oiv,  ore  hvofiaxos  Ofi^  KopiiSov 

ciV  fJLodov  dorepocvra  uropuaarro  worrioi  *Api|r*      ItS 

vili(o$Tf  St  OaXaaaa  nar*  ai04pot,  *QjrMU^  M 

Aouero  3i^df  'Afuz^a,  ircu  v5aot  ytiropor  ^EVnff 

Pdihas  6€pfia  ymca  KmiM'  ^^ytro  Mfl^pffg, 

icai  PvBiwv  K€V€6jvtf  dyvifna»$ffaa¥  ivaiktm 

KVfjMTa  mfpytoaayrt?,  ifuutaoftJvmo  M  wAtov         ISO 

ovpavui)  AcA^m  OaXaoatoi  ^rrtro  htX^." 

Kal  poOiw  KtXdBovTi  Koi  oiSa/ram  fwi$p^ 

r^ipa  fiaari^ovr€^  ip6fiB€0¥  u^arcK  6Xttoi. 

Kal  Si€pois  ooicccaotv  idwpi^)^^  orpar^  ^V*^*      'M 

#cai  Pvdiov  KpoFuoi'o^  aXtpp€Krtff  irapd  ^^nr^ 

€yx€iT)v  cAcAifcv  vnoppuxiTjy  SUXuc^prmg 

i€V$a^  "ladfuov  appxi,  koi  vypovocov  pooiA^Of 

cyxoy  oAtfCK^^iSi  rraprjwprfotv  dtnfirji, 

rpix^ahiT)  yXwxLVi  BaXdaoia  vwra  x^VM^omr,  SOd 

^tv^ag  "ladfjuov  dpfia-  Koi  InntUft  xP^ia^mapi^ 

^Ivhiowv  KcXdbrjfia  axn^TrXardyTfat  AfOrvwr. 

#ca&  hpofxov  vypov  tXauvt-  rtrtuPOfUvoto  M  8l'^yo» 

cuc/x>v  i;8a>p  dSiaiTo^  Mypa^  afipow  Mbf. 

TpiVtov  8'  €vpvy€vtio^  MKTvrrt  BvUoi  X^Pn»        *• 

•  The  constellation    CanU.   vhirh   cooUiat   SMm  (IIw 
DogsUr).     For  its  story,  sec  xlriL  iM  ff. 
880 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  177-205 

battle  with  the  thunderbolt  of  your  father  against 
the  helmsman  of  the  trident,  hurl  the  lightning  and 
wield  your  father's  aegis.  No  champion  Deriades 
faces  you  now  :  this  is  no  contest  with  Lycurgos,  no 
little  Arabian  fight,  but  your  adversary  is  the  sea  so 
mighty.  Heaven  still  trembles  at  my  spear  of  the 
deep,  Heaven  knows  what  a  battle  with  the  sea  is 
like.  Champion  Phaethon  too  in  his  celestial  course 
felt  the  point  of  my  trident,  when  the  deep  waged 
formidable  war  in  that  starry  battle  for  Corinth. 
The  sea  rose  to  the  sky,  the  thirsty  wain  bathed 
in  the  Ocean,  Maira's  dog"  found  salt  water  at 
hand  to  bathe  in  and  cooled  his  hot  chin  ;  the  deep 
bottom  of  the  waters  was  uplifted  in  towering 
waves,  the  dolphin  of  the  sea  met  the  dolphin  of 
the  sky  ^  amid  the  lashing  surges  !  " 

1^2  As  he  spoke,  he  shook  with  his  trident  the 
secret  places  of  the  sea,  roaring  surf  and  swelling 
flood  flogged  the  sky  with  booming  torrents  of 
water.  The  army  of  the  brine  took  up  their  wet 
shields.  Under  the  water  beside  the  brinesoaked 
manger  of  Cronion,  Melicertes  shook  the  spear  of 
the  deep,  and  yoked  the  Isthmian  team  ;  he  slung 
to  the  side  of  the  seaborne  car  the  spear  of  the 
seafaring  king,  and  scored  the  back  of  the  water 
with  its  triple  prong — he  yoked  the  Isthmian  team, 
and  the  roar  of  Indian  lions  resounded  along  with 
the  neighing  of  the  horses. 

203  He  drove  his  watery  course  ;  as  the  car  sped, 
the  hoof  unwetted,  unmoistened,  scored  only  the  sur- 
face.    The  broadbearded  Triton  sounded  his  note  for 

^  The  constellation  of  that  name.  Poseidon,  besides  his 
contest  with  Athena  for  Athens,  had  a  more  successful  one 
against  Helios  for  the  Isthmus  of  Corinth, 

281 


NONNOS 

dXXo<f>vrj,  vAoaouaav,  an    ifvof  ovpi  ttoff^jtnm 
rjfiLTeXTJ^-  6i€prj9  ^  tro/njopoy  i(vo9  6^^ 

Kai  Sifpfj  fidariYi,  BaXaaoaiii  mp^  4^*1V  '1^ 

^cu^a?  wKVTTopw  iTt^topif^iiim  ipiUL  tfwAXn, 
FAauAcos-  aviirrotrohotv  Xo^ffv  mfuCvTMy  mmmf 
Kal  'Larvpov^  €hiwK€v.    aXippoil^t  hi  JCv8oi|if 
ndi/  K€p6€i9,  dfidroiaw  iv  viam  tcfMot  Mnff, 
dppoxo^  aiy€ir)aiv  dvaxpovufv  oAa  }(i|Aailr»  SIA 

dararog  ioKlfrrqat,  KoXavpomi  w6¥ro¥  imdootm^, 
TrqKTihi  avpiCoJV  rroX^fiov  fUXof  ip  foBiont  M 
fup.rjXTjv  diwv  dvffJUoXiov  curdHi  ^c«H)f 

/xaoTcucov  KTVxrov  oAAoi'*  vwrp^fuoi^  M  Mol  O^ri^      SSO 
TLKTOfi€vr]  avpiyyi  Stoiicrro  irorrtaf  4x*** 
aAAo9  €VKpi!]TTiSa  Xo^v  mffotuor  cAi^af 
plipev  €<^*  *TSpta5«aaii',  aTrotrAovT^iOa  M  ^t^^ff"! 
^7)p€thwv  €rivai€   UaXaifiovof  €p&mmf  aMl(r. 
t[purT€VS  8'  'Icr^fuoi'  ol5/ia  Aiirair 

[\aXXtpnhos  SXptff      SS 
flvaXlw  BwprjKi  Kopvaavro,  btpfiart  ^vmifi' 
dfjuf>i  8c  fiiv  orcffMiTibov  tntpptov  aSi^wtt  *I*'8oi 

BdKXOV  K€KXop.€VOlO,  K€U  OvXoKOfAWP  OTlXiS  OifhpOm 

ifxjjKacjv  iToXvp-opiftov  itr^xvvairro  vopifk, 
a<j>iyyo^€vov  hk  ytpovrog  €7]v  mpoxpoof  €U(iSm'       S30 
Y\p<Mrr€vs  yap  p.€X€€Gai  rvnov  fufLffXov  ^^faai» 
TTOpSaXis  aloXovorrog  irjv  iarifaro  /ammt* 
Kal  <f>vT6v  avTOT^Xcarov  cm  x^ovos  opium  IcFTif 
Sevhpwaag  id  yvia,  Tivaaaofititav  Si  irm^Aair 
i/tevhaXcov  ilndvpiap.a  Bopcta8i  avpui€V  aJpff*  iW 

Kai  ypaTTTois  <t>oXiB^aoi  K€Kaap€va  vurra  jfopdfat 
282 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  206-236 

the  mad  battle — ^^he  has  limbs  of  two  kinds,  a  human 
shape  and  a  different  body,  green,  from  loins  to  head, 
half  of  him,  but  hanging  from  his  trailing  wet  loins  a 
curving  fishtail,  forked.  So  Glaucos  yoked  beside  their 
manger  in  the  sea  the  team  that  travels  in  the  swift 
gale,  and  as  they  galloped  along  dryfoot  he  touched 
up  the  necks  of  the  horses  with  dripping  whip,  and 
chased  the  Satyrs.  In  the  loud  sea-tumult  horned 
Pan,  lightly  treading  upon  the  untrodden  waters  and 
splashing  up  the  brine  with  his  goats-hooves  himself 
unwetted,  skipt  about  quickly  beating  the  sea  with 
his  crook  and  whistling  the  tune  of  war  on  his  pipes  ; 
then  hearing  on  the  waves  the  shadow  of  a  counter- 
feit sound  carried  by  the  wind,  he  ran  all  over  the  sea 
with  his  hillranging  feet  seeking  the  other  sounds — 
and  so  the  sea-echo  produced  by  his  pipes  in  the 
wind  was  hunted  itself.  Some  one  else  tore  up  a 
firmbased  island  cliff  and  threw  it  at  the  Hydriads 
— the  rock  missed  the  Nereids  and  shook  the  hall  of 
Palaimon  among  the  seaweed. 

225  Proteus  left  the  flood  of  the  Isthmian  sea  of 
Pallene,  and  armed  him  in  a  cuirass  of  the  brine,  the 
sealskin.  Round  him  in  a  ring  rushed  the  swarthy 
Indians  at  the  summons  of  Bacchos,  and  crowds  of  the 
woollyheaded  men  embraced  the  shepherd  of  the 
seals  in  his  various  forms.  For  in  their  grasp  the  Old 
Man  Proteus  took  on  changing  shapes,  weaving  his 
limbs  into  many  mimic  images.  He  spotted  his  body 
into  a  dappleback  panther.  He  made  his  limbs  a 
tree,  and  stood  straight  up  on  the  earth  a  selfgrown 
spire,  shaking  his  leaves  and  whistling  a  counterfeit 
whisper  to  the  North  Wind.  He  scored  his  back 
well  with  painted  scales  and  crawled  as  a  serpent ; 


283 


NONNOS 

cffwc  hpaKtov,  fifodrov  hi  nt4lofi4vov 
cmelpav  dyjr)wprja€v,  vn*  opxiprnJM  M  wuXft^ 
a.Kpa  TiraivofjL€vrj^  €A<Ai(cto  icvfcAaOOf  99jpi^, 
Kal  K€<l>aXrjv  wpSojod',  dnonrvw¥  0€ 
lov  aKoirriarijpa  k^x^i-oti  avpun  Xtufiy* 
Kal  Scfia?  dXXonpoatiXXov  €yo»¥  otc%o€w4% 
<f>pl^€  Xiwv,  avro  Kanpo^,  v5aip  fid^' 

tnl  X'>p6t  *liMr 
vypov  d7r€iXijrrjpi  poov  a^Kutoaro  h€0§i^ 
Xcpolv  oXiaChf^prjaiv  cx<ov  dnaT^Kuf¥  Stmf 
K€pbaX€o^  5c  ytpcjy  iroAu&u5aAor  «Oor  fytifiam 
€lx€  UtpiKXvfuvoio  noXuTptma  iatiaXa  uopi^> 


ov  KTdp.€v  'WpojcXh)^,  orrt  h^JcrvXa, 
ip€vhaX€OV  p,ip.rjp4i  v6$rK  IBpavat  fMA/ooiW. 
Xfpoal-qv  hi  y€povTo^  itcvKXtoowno  woptafif 
7r(x)€a  KTfTiotvra,  t^iXot/iapidBoiO  hi  dtota^ 
olyofi€vw  Papvhovnoy  vhutp  itmrd^Xaat  XatuAm 

SvyaTCpiov  hi  ^oAayya  ^tXt\ko¥  wtf  fiS$0¥  Amtr 
cy^^ci  Kvp,ar6€VTi  y^P^^  umXHrro  NiM>fiJf , 
TTOvrotropw  rpiohoyri  KaraBptftatdMiv  M^orrQir« 
hiivos  ihflv'  rroAAai  hi   nap*  n($ra  yimPlf  S^fioA 
elvaXlj)  Nrjprjog  ihoxfiwBrfoav  oxctfirj. 
Nrjpitowv  hi  y€V€6Xn  awttcpovaturro 
VGp.Cvrjs  dXdXayfia-  Kal  ctV  u6$o¥  Ci^6$^ 
'fip.i<l>av7)s  diTihiXo^  iPoKxtv&q  X*^P^ 
Koi  TiaTvpwv  daChrjpof  inataaovaa  Ktfiout/^ 
dpxdLTjv  inl  Auaaav  di€hpafjL€v  dararos    uiw, 
XevKov  ipcvyop^vr)  fiavtwhto^  d^pov  t^v^Mff. 
Kal  pXoavpr)   tlavoncia  hiataaovira  yoAipifr 
yXavKCL  daXaaaatrj^  €n€fid<m€  vuna  XtahnK* 
Kal  ponaXov  hvatporros  diipofUvri   MoAvmiov 
ilvaXirj  TaXdreia  Kopvaaero  XvQadhi  B<ur;(27* 
884 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  237-267 

he  rose  in  coils  squeezing  his  belly,  and  with  a  dancing 
throb  of  his  curling  tail's  tip  he  twirled  about,  lifted 
his  head  and  spat  hissing  from  gaping  throat  and 
grinning  jaws  a  shooting  shower  of  poison.  So  from 
one  shadowy  shape  to  another  in  changeUng  form  he 
bristled  as  a  hon,  charged  as  a  boar,  flowed  as  water 
— the  Indian  company  clutched  the  wet  flood  in 
threatening  grasp,  but  found  the  pretended  water 
sUpping  through  their  hands.  So  the  crafty  Old  Man 
changed  into  many  and  varied  shapes,  as  many  as 
the  varied  shapes  of  Periclymenos,"  whom  Heracles 
slew  when  between  two  fingers  he  crushed  the 
counterfeit  shape  of  a  bastard  bee.  Flocks  of  sea- 
monsters  ringed  round  the  Old  Man  on  his  expedition 
to  dry  land,  water  splashed  with  a  heavy  roar  from 
the  open  mouths  of  the  sand-loving  seals. 

2^^  Ancient  Nereus  armed  himself  with  a  watery 
spear,  and  led  his  regiment  of  daughters  into  the 
Euian  struggle.  With  sea-traversing  trident  he 
leapt  at  the  elephants,  terrible  to  behold  :  many  a 
neighbouring  cliff  along  the  shore  toppled  sideways 
under  the  seapike  of  Nereus.  The  tribes  of  Nereids 
sounded  for  their  sire  the  cry  of  battle-triumph  :  un- 
shod, half  hidden  in  the  brine,  the  company  rushed 
raging  to  combat  over  the  sea.  Restless  Ino  speed- 
ing unarmed  into  strife  with  the  Satyrs,  fell  again 
into  her  old  madness  spitting  white  foam  from 
her  maddened  lips.  Terrible  Panopeia  also  shot 
through  the  quiet  water  flogging  the  greeny  back  of 
a  sealioness.  Galateia  too  the  sea-nymph  lifting  the 
club  of  her  lovesick  Polyphemos  ^  attacked  a  wild 

<*  A  son  of  Neleus  and  brother  of  Nestor,  to  whom  Poseidon 
gave  power  to  take  all  manner  of  shapes.  For  Heracles'  war 
with  Neleus's  sons,  see  II.  xi.  690.  ^  Cf.  xl.  565. 

285 


KONNOS 

nofiniXo^  'q(pra^€  St*  vSaro^  afipoxpv 

ojj  8€  TiS"  i7nr€Vitjv  tXarrjp  iW  iomAA  WJura*         fO 

boxjJ-titoas  oXov  imrov  dpumpo^  /yyoAl  fMNFlff » 

8€fiTc/>o»'  Kafii/Hif,  napi4fUvou>  yaAin>d 

K€V'Tpw  tmcm/pxojv,  npoWu»¥  nXfjfiWWOlF  ^MttXsf/lf, 

OKXd^ivv  iTTiKvproi,  in*  ayrvyi  yoAmra  Vlffsf 

l^vi  KafiTJTop.ti'rj ,  Kai  ittovavov  iflnrar  AmImmt  fTt 

o/xfia  paXoiV  KaroniaOi ,  nftfi4XK0§UpO9  U 

hi^pov  oniaOoTtdpoio  ^uAaoocnu  i^wo^f^Of 

ci>;  TOTc  ST)p€tS4f  ^upyjv  ntpH  vvoooj 

lyOvaq  wKvnopoiaw  toiKorn^  i^Aooar  farwif*  Mi 

oAAt;  5*  ain-tKc'Acu^oK  dAApofiC¥  ffyt  W0|^f£|P  M 

vwTti)  b*  ivOvo^vri  KaBimrtvovaa  yaAi|M|f  Ml 

vy/>o/ia»^  dpo/ioi'  €r;f<-  ^i^if  W  nc  ^M^  A^riff  MA 
fi€aaoif>av'r)^  ^Xif/Zh-a^  o/i<>{uya(  iayW€  QgJiw^.  Ml 

Kat  TTora/ioi  ^ceAoSv^aav  <f  ^fwnfif  AaOlifoov 
6ap<TVVovrt<;  dvojcra,  kqX  d€vruu¥  Awi 

ayycAo?  vop.un^^  IIoai5ifio?  <*/3^|a<  o^kmy^' 
Kai  TTcXdyt]  KvpTovro  awoij^fidiorra  rpuutf^' 
*\Kapup  yXvprCooq  iiTtTp^x**'*  ^YX*^'^'^  ^ 
EoTTcpioj  ^LapSifto^,  'M'iP  iirtavprro  KiXer^ 
olBaiiujv  TTfAaycaai,  ko*  i}^a^  ^I'Xi 
BoaTro/x^s"  dtmj/HKTo?  €fAtyw€  uro^mSWir 
Aiyalov  Se  p€i6pa  awatOvooovrts  dMk§ 
*Iovir]^  k€V€6jv€^  ipaarlJ^ovro  BaXiofnif 
avCvy€€9»  ^iKcXrj^  &€  7ra^  o^pd  0Ma3o(  cX^rjf 
KVfiaai  nvpyojd€laa  Gvi'€Krvn€v  *Ahp^a£  ^l)Wi| 
dyxiv€(l>ijs-  Kol  KoxXoy  cAoiv  vrro  LvpTMOi  mm^ 
286 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIIL  268-299 

Bacchant.  Eido  rode  unshaken,  unwetted,  over  the 
water  mounted  on  the  back  of  a  seabred  pilot  fish. 

2'^^  As  a  driver  in  the  circus  rounding  the  post 
with  skill,  turns  about  the  near  horse  to  hug  the 
post  and  lets  the  off  horse  follow  along  on  a 
slackened  rein,  goading  him  on  and  yelling  horse- 
lashing  threats  —  he  stoops  and  crouches,  resting 
his  knees  on  the  rail,  and  leans  to  the  side  :  as  he 
drives  a  willing  horse  with  the  sparing  hand  of  a 
master,  and  a  little  touch  of  the  whip,  as  he  turns 
his  face  casting  an  eye  behind  while  he  watches 
the  car  of  the  driver  behind — so  then  the  Nereids 
drove  their  fishes  like  swift-moving  horses  about  the 
watery  goal  of  their  contest.  Another  opposite 
handling  her  reins  on  a  dolphin's  back  peeped  out 
over  the  water,  and  moved  on  her  seaborne  course 
as  she  rode  down  the  quiet  sea  on  the  fish  in  a 
wild  race  over  the  waters  ;  then  tlie  mad  dolphin 
travelling  in  the  sea  half- visible  cut  through  his 
fellow-dolphins . 

286  The  Rivers  came  roaring  into  the  battle  with 
Dionysos,  encouraging  their  lord,  and  Oceanos  gaped 
a  watery  bellow  from  his  everflowing  throat  while 
Poseidon's  trumpet  sounded  to  tell  of  the  coming 
strife  ;  the  deeps  rounded  into  a  swell  rallying  to  the 
Trident.  Myrtoan  hurried  up  to  Icarian,  Sardinian 
came  near  Hesperian,  Iberian  with  swelling  waves 
rolled  along  to  Celtic ;  Bosporos  never  still  mingled 
his  curving  stream  with  both  his  familiar  seas  ;  the 
deeps  of  the  Ionian  Sea  rolling  with  the  stormwind 
beat  together  upon  the  streams  of  Aegean,  and  the  wild 
Adriatic  brine  rose  high  as  the  clouds  and  in  towering 
waves  beat  on  the  feet  of  the  raging  Sicilian.  Libyan 
Nereus  caught  up  his  conch  under  the  water  by  Syrtis, 

287 


NONN08 

cij/oAit;  adXmyy^  Aifiv^  fivtriaaro  Ni|^irfr 
Kai  Tis"  dvat^a^  poBUuv  )^(p<7at09  Mrrft 
€tV  OKOTTi-qv  7ro5a  Xaiov  iptiaaro,  ht(mp^  M 
ovp€o^  Qjcpa  Kaprji-a  ro/uoi'  ivoai^fiatn  tv^MR^ 
MatmSof  dtpavoToio  ifany^fcWiff  ira^njpoir* 
KQi  /Su^tV  rptoSoTi  #carai)^<t{itfr  Aionlwov 
dXfxaai  fiyjrpwoiaiv  €/5axx«w^  McAar/pn}f. 

€irc<rrpar^«rro  Mi8o^i^» 

eiV  fioOov  vbar6€%rra  Kopvourro  ^tHXoJU  mnrQ, 
dararos  olarpiffitiaa  no^ut¥  fitfripitom  wuXft^' 
Tj  5^  ^dfiov  Spniaaav  vno  am/iXvyya  Kafitipm^ 
vaaaafuvT)  At^voio  n€LfHat€iprrf09W  i^tnjif 
^dppapov  aWvoaovaa  fi4Xof  Kofwfiawribot  iJxoCf* 
dXXrj  dno  TfiwXoio  Acj^omSo^  tS^  Xtairfft 
dpa€va  p.irpaHjaaa  KOfirjv  d^uihtl  b€a^, 
Maiovls  dKpri8€p.vo^  vntppvxdro  Mi^aoAAmt, 
Koi  TTohoS  IX^OS  €7n)(€  furnopO¥  w^6&€P  ^xl^Vf 
fufirjXal^  y€inj€aaiv  ima^piowoa  ^aXdaojU. 
J!,€iX7)voi  5c  KiXiaaav  dra/9Ai${orrcr  i^pa^ 
Mvyboviwv  €XaTTJp€^  €$<op'qaaovro  Aconwr^ 

dp.7T€X6€v  7TaXdp,T)aiv  dv4axtBo¥  ip¥99    El«e6(« 
Koi  TToXdfiag  Tavvaam-o  X€OVTtifi¥  hil  5tyA» 
hpa^dficvoL  TrXoKafilBo^,  d^aificutdrcvf  hi  ^op/fjaif 
dapaaXeoi  Xaaioiaiv  dvtKpovaturro  vaXuKHS* 
dpird^a^  hk  rcvovra  ;^apci5^nfcKro9  inaSkm 
T,€iXr]v6s  noXcfu^f  llaXaifLoyt,  ^ToMfr  M 
€yx€L  KiGcrrjcvTi  hi*  vSaro^  ipiaa€P  *Iw. 
oAAoj  5'  dXXog  €pil€'  Kol  ovK  ff^aaoTO  BScxfl 
Ovpaw  dKovTLOTrjpi  KaTotaaovaa  rpioimfs, 
288 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  300-330 

and  boomed  on  his  sea-trumpet.  Then  one  rising  from 
the  surge  and  stepping  on  land  rested  his  left  foot 
on  a  rock,  and  mth  right  broke  off  the  top  of  the  cliff 
with  earthshaking  tread  and  hurled  it  at  a  Mainad's 
inviolate  head  ;  and  MeUcertes  lunging  at  Dionysos 
with  his  trident  of  the  sea  went  madly  along  in  leaps 
like  his  mother's. 

^^  Companies  of  Bassarids  marched  to  battle.  One 
shaking  the  untidy  clusters  of  her  tresses  to  and  fro, 
armed  herself  with  raging  madness  for  battle  with  the 
waters,  driven  wildly  along  with  restless  dancing  feet. 
One  whose  home  was  in  the  Samothracian  cavern 
of  the  Cabeiroi,  skipt  about  the  peaks  of  Lebanon 
crooning  the  barbarous  notes  of  Corybantian  tune. 
Another  from  Tmolos  on  a  Uoness  newly  whelped, 
having  wreathed  snakes  in  her  own  manly  hair,  a 
Maionian  Mimallon  unveiled,  bellowed  and  set  her 
foot  on  the  lofty  slope,  with  foam  on  her  hps  like  the 
seafoam.  Seilenoi  spluttering  drops  of  Cilician  wine- 
dew  equipt  themselves  as  riders  of  Mygdonian  lions, 
and  danced  with  a  din  against  the  crowd  from  the  sea, 
brandishing  in  their  hands  their  viny  warpole,  as 
they  stretched  their  hands  over  the  Hons'  necks  and 
plucked  at  the  mane  and  boldly  checked  their  furious 
mounts  by  this  bristly  bridle.  A  Seilenos  tore  off  a 
roof  from  a  rocky  hole  and  attacked  Palaimon,  and 
drove  Ino  wandering  through  the  water  with  his  ivy 
spear.  One  fought  with  another :  a  Bacchant  did  not 
shrink  but  cast  a  thyrsus  hurtling  against  the  trident, 

VOL.  Ill  U  289 


NONNOS 

BaKxrj  OrjXv^  iovoa-  npoaairi^uMf  hi  AoA^ooiff 
Wavl  ifHXooKondXu)  fitratfumot  ifpum  Wiyt^i 

OV  8€  fllV  €aTV<f>€Xt(€V'   €1ttpx6lU¥€¥  hk   SvoUjf 

TXavKov  aKoiTitrrfjpi  MdpuMf  avtotiooiro  Bjpotf, 
i»piv€<tyq^  5*  cAc^r  fAfX€utv  ivooiyfion  «a^^ 
hiv€vwv  oraTov  ixy'oq  dxa^n^i  yoAmrog  ^yx^ 

Kal  ^drvpoi  pwovro  KvPumjrijpi  irv8ot|if 
ravpo^vtU  K€pd€aai  iwrcw^tyrcf,  iaavfUfoi^  M 
dXXo<f>ayri^  K^xdXaaro  hi*  ifuo;  SfBiiOt  ^4^*4 


TToaai  ScvaJo/xVi-wf  tnoxvifiivot  t(ik  rt 
mjfnTX€K€wv  €B\i4i€  /i<Aof  MvpMpoa¥  miXQtf, 
Kal  nXoKafioui  fiaXirfOi  awoMoomfoa  SvdXXaif 
Mvybovl^  cV^>oraAi{cv  o^lvya  ioififiaXa  Bajrj|fif« 
Kal  Xo<t>irjv  iniKvprov  €fidaru  Xvaodiiof  4pimm 
6r)p6s  xmoppvxii]^  dyTumo¥'  dypor4pni  hk 
nopSaXig  ovp€oi<t>oiTOf  iXavrtro  K^vrop^  BfSpO^* 
KoU  Tty  dfjLfpaiiooio  Kardaxrrof  oAfUtrt  Xvoaift 
tyv€at»'  dpp€KToiaiv  tntaKiprrfot  ^aXdaajn, 
ota  HoaeiSdiovog  tniaKaipovaa  KQfnfjiftf 
Xd^  nobl  KVfjLara  TC'*ft€v,  itrrjrrtiXffat  M  vtfrry 
GiyaXco),  Kal  Kuxf>dv  vBwp  int^dtrm  B'SpO^ 
BaaaapU  vypcxftofyrjra^'  and  nXoKOpOiO  hk  wJft^nit 
a^^Acyco?  ocAaytff  Kar    avx^vo^  aiMj^iaTOr  trfljp, 
6dp,pos  iScii'.     KiwpT)  8f  Trap*  ^d^i  Vftrori  w6rnf 
il>vXo7nv  cLoopdwaa   BaXaaaofimnf  AiovvoDV 
atvoTTad-qs  Ta/ia^  noXirmp^a  pffKoro  ^awn{p' 
"  Et  0€Ti8o5  x^*'  oltj^a 

KOU  €vnaXdfLOv  BpuzfifOf, 
290 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  331-361 

she,  a  Bacchant  and  a  woman  ;  Nereus  defending  the 
sea  came  on  land  to  fight  with  foaming  arms  against  a 
rock-loving  Pan ;  a  mountain  Bacchant  chased  the  god 
of  Pallene  "  with  blood-dripping  ivy,  but  did  not  shake 
him  !  Glaucos  assailed  Dionysos,  but  Maron  shot  his 
thyrsus  at  him  and  shook  him  off.  A  cloudhigh  ele- 
phant with  earthshaking  motions  of  his  Hmbs  stamped 
about  his  stiff  legs  with  massive  unbending  knee,  and 
attacked  an  earth-bedding  seal  with  his  long  snout. 
Satyrs  also  bustled  about  in  dancing  tumult,  trusting 
to  the  horns  on  their  bull-heads,  while  the  straight  tail 
draggled  from  their  loins  for  a  change  as  they  hurried. 
Hosts  of  Seilenoi  rushed  along,  and  one  of  them  with 
his  two  legs  straddling  across  the  back  of  a  bull, 
squeezed  out  a  tune  on  his  two  pipes  tied  together. 
A  Mygdonian  Bacchant  rattled  her  pair  of  cymbals, 
with  hair  fluttering  in  the  brisk  winds  ;  she  flogged 
the  bowed  neck  of  a  wild  bear  against  a  monster  of 
the  deep,  and  the  wild  panther  of  the  mountains  was 
driven  by  a  thyrsus-goad.  One  Bassarid  possessed 
with  mindrobbing  throes  of  madness  skipt  over 
the  sea  with  unwetted  feet,  as  if  she  were  dancing 
upon  Poseidon's  head — she  stamped  on  the  waves, 
threatened  the  silent  sea,  flogged  the  deaf  water  with 
her  thyrsus,  that  Bassarid  who  never  sank  ;  from  her 
hair  blazed  fire  selfkindled  over  her  neck  and  burnt 
it  not,  a  wonder  to  behold.  Psamathe  sorrowful  on 
the  beach  beside  the  sea,  watching  the  turmoil  of 
seabattling  Dionysos,  uttered  the  dire  trouble  of  her 
heart  in  terrified  words  : 

361  "  O   Lord  Zeus  !     if  thou   hast  gratitude   for 
Thetis  and  the  ready  hands  of  Briareus,  if  thou  hast 

«  Poseidon,  cf.  Thuc.  iv.  129.  3. 

291 


NOKKOS 

et  fidO€S  Atyauow  rtatv  XP^^V^P^ 

Zev  am,  Ba*fxo»'  ^P'J'^f  M*M'7»"^'  Ml^ 

SouAoovj^v  Nr)pr}o^  tm   VXavtcoiO  TcXinrH|* 

/ii7  0€rt9  auvXo6axpt;f  xnn^p^^tM  A«M9»«  SIS 

oipofjLcyrjv  fi€ra  troyrov,    \xMia,  hifMl,  flllipipor, 

A€VKo0€'qv  8*  (AcaifM  yoi}/ioHi,  rijr  «o^aieoln|r 
yfa  Xapwv  c5ai(c,  toi^  aordmNO  itMr^  S70 

7rcu5o^»^i  yAtuvrrcf  <*5airp€voo«'ro  uaw[fffiif** 
*0.S  <l>a^€vr)i  r)Kova€  hi    al&4po$  Cftfubtmf  Zcrfr* 

Kcu  fi6dov  (trpi^vv€  yofioaroXotr  oipatMtif  y^ 

wfi^iBC-qv  driXtarov  dvaar^XXorrtt  *Emfm  S9S 

BaKYov  dirctAiTn^pcv  ^tcvtcXwoarro  mpamml. 

Kol  $€6s  dfjLTTfXotig  ya^iUft  i^hof^f^idpot  l& 

Kovprjv  /i€v  ^€\'taivt'  trar^p  hi  lUM  h^miimif  SMf 

Ppovrairj^  dviKorrrt  fUXof  ooXmYyat  ipd/9m^, 

Kol  TTodov  vafiiiTi^  di^atifMOt  wdrptof  ^X***  SSO 

d/cvoAcoi;  3c  Ti-o^caacv  <;^(cto  vw$p6f  oofmnf, 

arvyvo^  ottioBo^Xw  hthotcrj^Uvof  ^ifUtfi  iKO^py 

ovaai  S*  alhofiii'Oiaiv  d€iho^4vufy  o4  »frry 

Ji^Aoi'  cxoij'  tJkovcv  *AfWfuuvTf^  vfuvalam. 

Kol  ydfiov  7)fiiT€X€arov  aXifipo^iof  mrvf  avptyf,       SSS 

/cat  Sovcciiv  da^arov  cV  uSooi  miiyAor  trljp 

TraoTov  * AyLvyujjvT)^  ^oAa/xi/troAo;  i|fini«  Ni|pfi^, 

ICai  fl€XoS  €7rX€K€  ^OpKV^'  d/io{i}A^  5^  wop€iif 

TXavKos  dv€aKiprrja€y,  ipaK^tv^  M€Xuc4fnrfS' 

Kal  ^vyirjv  raXdrtia  StaKpovovoa  X0P*^V^  390 

doraro?  opxrjcrrfjpi  nohatv  cAcAi^rro  iraA|i^, 

Kat  yd/iioi'  /xeAo;  efTrcv,  cVci  fiddt  tcaXa  XtyaUtUf 

7roifJi€vlrj  avpiyyi  hihaoKOfUvrj  IloAv^ij^cov. 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  362-393 

not  forgot  Aigaion  the  protector  of  thy  laws,"  save 
us  from  Bacchos  in  his  madness  !  Let  me  never  see 
Glaucos  dead  and  Nereus  a  slave  !  Let  not  Thetis 
in  floods  of  tears  be  servant  to  Lyaios,  let  me  not  see 
her  a  slave  to  Bromios,  leaving  the  deep,  to  look  on 
the  Lydian  land,  lamenting  in  one  agony  Achilles, 
Peleus,  Pyrrhos,  grandson,  husband,  and  son  !  Pity 
the  groans  of  Leucothea,  whose  husband  took  their 
son  and  slew  him — the  heartless  father  butchered  his 
son  with  the  blade  of  his  murderous  knife  !  " 

^'^2  She  spoke  her  prayer,  and  Zeus  on  high  heard 
her  in  heaven.  He  granted  the  hand  of  Beroe  to 
Earthshaker,  and  pacified  the  rivals'  quarrel.  For 
from  heaven  to  check  the  bridebattle  yet  undecided 
came  threatening  thunderbolts  round  about  Dionysos. 
The  vinegod  wounded  by  the  arrow  of  love  still  craved 
the  maiden ;  but  Zeus  the  Father  on  high  stayed 
him  by  playing  a  tune  on  his  trumpet  of  thunder, 
and  the  sound  from  his  father  held  back  the  desire 
for  strife.  With  lingering  feet  he  departed,  with 
heavy  pace,  turning  back  for  a  last  gloomy  look  at 
the  girl;  jealous,  with  shamed  ears,  he  heard  the 
bridal  songs  of  Amymone  in  the  sea.  The  syrinx 
sounding  from  the  brine  proclaimed  that  the  rites 
were  already  half  done.  Nereus  as  Amymone's 
chamberlain  showed  the  bridal  bed,  shaking  the 
wedding  torches,  the  fire  which  no  water  can  quench. 
Phorcys  sang  a  song ;  with  equal  spirit  Glaucos 
danced  and  Melicertes  romped  about.  And  Galateia 
twangled  a  marriage  dance  and  restlessly  twirled  in 
capering  step,  and  she  sang  the  marriage  verses,  for 
she  had  learnt  well  how  to  sing,  being  taught  by 
Polyphemos  with  a  shepherd's  syrinx. 

c  cf.  II.  i.  396  ff. 


NONNOS 

Kat  B€p^  hi€poiaiv  ofiiXi^aaf  vfUMiioiC 
Wfi^(o9  iwoaiyauK  c^cAaro  narpAa.  w(yi^»;f*  SM 

Kol  3€p6rj^  vatrjfaiv  €rj^  irci^i}Aior  c^H)r 
''Apcos-  €i»^tbio  daXaaaairjy  w6p€  vltOff. 
KoX  ydfios  oXfiios  ^€v,  imi  fivBltp  WQp^  wm^rA 
aiiov  fhvov  'Epcirrof  'Xpatfi  itcoftlaoairo  Nig^m» 
'HffKLioTov  aoi^y  €pyov,  *OMfinta  haCbaXti,  »J|i^||,  40O 
opfiov  dywv  KaXvKa^  rt  ^pui¥  ^Xutds  rw  rtmumay, 
OTnroaa  NTy/KiS^aaiv  a/iifi7r^  tcd^  ^'jfT? 
At^/xvio;  ipyoTTovo^  napd  tcvftaat**  ffol  Iti9€m  ^^Mff 
€finvpov  dxfiova  7raXX€v  xmofipvxjhfy  TW  wiyd^ypy, 
^voaXiov  x^dyoio  9rcpt5/x>/ioK  &j0fMa  Ttra/kur         40f 
9roi7rors>  di'€fxoiaiv,  di'airTOfi^yrK  5^  fnyifrrrv 
^  poBiois  da^arov  ^p6fifif€v  M6§MJifX0tf  «IW* 
Nt7P€U9  /ici'  Ta5€  &a^/>a  iroAin'poira,  Somm  Mieoilipo 
n€/>auc6s>  EwftprfTTj^  TroAu&uSoAor  c28or  dlpiCjp'ifr' 
XptMTow  'I/Siyp  TTopc  'P^w>9'  ix^icrtdv%aM^  hk  li^riXXuty  410 
i7At;^ev  cixeAa  ScDpa  ytpotv  IXaKTtMtXoi  dMlptmtf 
X^P<'*'  <f>vXa(mop€vrioiv ,  ori  np6fiO¥  irp€fu  AMh 
BoKxov  tov  PaaiXrja,  teal  trp€p€  ytho^a  *P*^ 
MvySovirj^  noXiovxov  C17?  x^ovo^'  *Hptiap6s  M 
'HXidBwv  rjXcKTpa  pvrf<f>€vtwy  dv6  hMptaif  4U 

hwpa  n6p€  ariXfioyra'  $cal  dpyvpiijs  dw6  ^hfm 
'Lrpvfiwv  oaaa  /xcroAAa  icai  oinrooa  FdSlf  M%pft, 
fhvov  *ApvfM(i)Vf)  3o>p7^ro  Kvayoxairrit, 

^Qs   6  p€V   dpTlx6p€VT09   VITofipV)^   WOpii  WOOTtft 

yqdcfv  twomyaio^-  dpahrfrtp  hk  AtNiXy  4S0 

yvwrros  "E/xo?  <f>$ov€oiTi  napi^fyf>po>if  Mij^ 


*  A  rap  in  M  and  other  m<4.  :  F"*  rtacb  c^^mm,  Gracfe, 
followed  by  Ludwich,  rt^torcs  K»»ptU. 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  394-421 

39*  After  celebrating  Beroe's  wedding  in  the  sea, 
her  bridegroom  Earthshaker  was  a  friend  to  her 
native  place.  He  gave  her  countrymen  victory  in 
war  on  the  sea  as  a  precious  treasure  in  return  for  his 
bride.  It  was  a  wealthy  wedding.  Arabian  Nereus 
brought  to  the  bridechamber  in  the  deep  a  worthy 
gift  of  love,  a  clever  work  of  Hephaistos,  Olympian 
ornaments,  for  the  bride  ;  necklace  and  earrings 
and  armlets  he  brought  and  offered,  all  that  the 
Lemnian  craftsman  had  made  for  the  Nereids  with 
inimitable  workmanship  in  the  waves  "  —  there  in 
the  midst  of  the  brine  he  shook  his  fiery  anvil 
and  tongs  under  water,  blowing  the  enclosed  breath 
of  the  bellows  ^  with  mimic  winds,  and  when  the 
furnace  was  kindled  the  fire  roared  in  the  deep 
unquenched.  Nereus  then  brought  these  gifts  in 
great  variety.  But  Persian  Euphrates  gave  the  girl 
the  webspinner's  embroidered  wares  ;  Iberian  Rhine 
brought  gold  ;  old  Pactolos  came  bringing  the  like 
offerings  from  his  opulent  mines,  with  cautious  hands, 
for  he  feared  the  Lydian  master,  Bacchos  his  king, 
and  he  feared  Rheia  his  neighbour,  the  cityholder 
of  his  country  Mygdonia.  Eridanos  brought  shining 
gifts,  amber  from  the  Heliad  trees  that  trickle  riches  ; 
and  from  the  silver  rock,  all  the  metals  of  Strymon 
and  all  that  Geudis  has  were  brought  as  a  marriage- 
gift  to  Amymone  by  Seabluehair. 

*i9  And  so  the  dances  were  over,  and  Earthshaker 
was  happy  in  the  bridechamber  beneath  the  waters  ; 
but  Lyaios  never  smiled,  and  his  brother  Eros  came 
to  console  him  in  his  jealous  mood  : 

"  This  was  when  he  was  thrown  out  of  heaven,  and  rescued 
by  Thetis  and  Eurynome.     Horn.  II.  xviii.  398-405. 

^  Literally,  windy  pipe  :  but  Nonnos  seems  to  have  con- 
fused bellows  with  melting  pot. 

295 


NONNOS 

dpfitvos  ^v  y^nuK  o^ro^»  on  Pp^X^rj^  *A4pMnft 
TTOuSa  Xajpwv  cfciifa  OaXaatiowoptp  mpOKoiri^'         US 
dPpoT€priv  8*  ^^wAof o  TfOiff  aaAi4uMC  'A^tA^, 
€#f  y€V€iji  Mivwo^  ofioyytcv'  Of^n&n^  M 
novTiov  alfia  ^povaav  'Afu^fuunp  AIm  w4tfr^, 

tfcot  €iV  ^pvYirjv  €vndp$€vo¥,  ^xf  ^  l^^f»^  <•• 

dppoxov  'HcAuxo  A<xoj  TiT^viSoj  Alfpi|f* 
Ktti  Gr€tf>o^  datcijaaaa  f^xt^  *"**  «airrd5a  «tioi(pi|ff 
Spfj^KTi  wfii^KOfJLOi  at  S€&4(€rai,  iJxt  «al  tt^fi^ 
UaXXijirq  KoAc'ci  ac  bopvaaoof,  ^  «a^  «a9r^ 
d6Xo<l>6pov  ya/itoiac  rrtpunii^w  0€  KOp/ipifiott  4St 

ifUpTrfv  rtXlaavra  rraXaiafioawrip  *A^jpoSln|f  •* 

dovpos  "Epcjs-  -nrtpvyiMtv  hi  vuptitUa  fi6§»fie¥  U^Xtmf 
"^pif)  vodos  opvi^  dvT)wpfjro  noptifi, 
Kol  Acos-  €tV  hofiov  ^$€v.    an  *Aowplmo  ^  it^Asov  440 
dfipoxiTotv  Aioyvoo^  avijicv  ctf  X^*^  Av8«^ 
riaiCTCoAot}  napd  wcjav,  OTTiy  XP^^^^^'^^T^^  ^'V^ 
djf>v€irjs  riTaioio  fUXav  ^oiviaomu  uSaijp* 
Matoviris  3*  CTTCjScuvc,  urcu  urrsTO  ftffrdpt  'P<% 
'Ii'Sajr;?  opeywv  /ScunA^ta  Soipa  0aAdSo«n|r*  445 

Ko^ciipa^  5c  p€€6pa  PaBvnXofSrov  worofuio 
Kol  ^pvyiov  K€V€dtva  Kai  appoPiu¥  yhn^  SSp&f 
*ApKran]v  irapd  ttcJov  ei7v  i^VT€va€¥  Swwpnp^t 
Evpwtrqs  iTToXUdpa  ficT*  'AaiSof  ooTfa  fiatvom* 


290 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIII.  422-449 

*22  "  Dionysos,  why  do  you  still  bear  a  grudge 
against  the  cestus  that  makes  marriages  ?  Beroe 
was  no  proper  bride  for  Bacchos,  but  this  marriage 
of  the  sea  was  quite  fitting,  because  I  joined  the 
daughter  of  Aphrodite  of  the  sea  to  a  husband  whose 
path  is  in  the  sea.  I  have  kept  a  daintier  one  for  your 
bridechamber,  Ariadne,  of  the  family  of  Minos  and 
your  kin.  Leave  Amymone  to  the  sea,  a  nobody,  one 
of  the  family  of  the  sea  herself.  You  must  leave  the 
mountains  of  Lebanon  and  the  waters  of  Adonis  and 
go  to  Phrygia,  the  land  of  lovely  girls  ;  there  awaits 
you  a  bride  without  salt  water,  Aura  of  Titan  stock. ** 
Thrace  the  friend  of  brides  will  receive  you,  with  a 
wreath  of  victory  ready  and  a  bride's  bower  ;  thither 
Pallene  also  the  shakespear  summons  you,  beside 
whose  chamber  I  will  crown  you  with  a  wedding 
wreath  for  your  prowess,  when  you  have  won 
Aphrodite's  delectable  wTestling-match." 

*3^  So  wild  Eros  spoke  to  his  lovemad  brother 
Bacchos :  then  he  flapt  his  whizzing  fiery  wings,  and 
up  the  sham  bird  flew  in  the  skies  travelling  until  he 
came  to  the  house  of  Zeus.  And  from  the  Assyrian 
gulf  Dionysos  went  daintily  clad  into  the  Lydian  land 
along  the  plain  of  Pactolos,  where  the  dark  water  is 
reddened  by  the  goldgleaming  mud  of  wealthy  lime  ; 
he  entered  Maionia,  and  stood  before  Rheia  his 
mother,  offering  royal  gifts  from  the  Indian  sea. 
Then  leaving  the  stream  of  this  river  of  deep  riches, 
and  the  Phrygian  plain,  and  the  nation  of  softliving 
men,  he  planted  his  vine  on  the  northerly  plain,  and 
passed  from  the  towns  of  Asia  to  the  cities  of  Europe. 

"  Hyperion,  father  of  Helios,  was  a  Titan,  so  the  reading 
may  pass. 


297 


AlONTSIAKllN  TESTAPAKOCTON 
TETAPTON 

T€aoapajcoar6v  v^va  to  Wr^ror,  ^jn  ymmtKQ§ 
h4pK€0  fiaivofiivas  xal  UtMot  Sy^toi^  awiA^. 

'H^  5*  *lXXvpjff^  AouAornor  i0w  ^0»y 
Kol  ir4hov  Aifiovirj^  irai  FI  nAcor  iMpcm  mam 
'EXXahos  tyyv^  ucavt,  koX    Aor^  ira^  vilb 
arrjo€  xopov^.    dlwv  Si  fUXof  fiMm^frop9t  moXtQ 
llavl  Tai^ypauA*  Biaaov^  iar^aaro  vo^Mfr*  • 

KoX  Kprnrq  K€XdoTja€V,  orrjj  ^Bwof  dxptm  dfidfog 
iJypos  owi  i7nr€io^  tnanvfiov  iyXv^€V  fl^wy* 
^AacjTTos  3*  €xdp€V€  TTvpim-oa  x^vfiara  oiiptitif 
KOi  irpoxoa^  tX(Xi(€'  ovv  *\a^rjv^  M  TOiril}i 
irvfcAoSas'  aldvaaovaa  poa^  utpx^^oaro  dJptcfl,  10 

Kal  nori  riq  hpvotvro^  di-at^aoa  tcnp4tta09 
rip4i^vri9  €Xiyaii^€v  'AfxaSovd^  ^i^6Bi  Mp8f09« 
owofia  KvSaivovaa  Kopvfipo^opov  Aiovifamr* 
wrjyairi  5*  ofioifKovo^  aadpfiaXo^  ui)fc  fifSftdfif, 

Kcu  irrtmo;  ovp€ai^iro^  dh€^rfiTtHO  /SMnff  1^ 

IIcv^cos^  d(77roi'5o(aii'  €iT€afiapdYffatv  ^jeovatr* 
olvo^pw  8*  ddcfiiaro^  dva(  ^trc;(cu<mTO  BdUrra, 
#fcu  orpaririv  cKopvaat  /xa;^fUN«a,  xdicXtTO  5*  ttOTOt'T 

«  lliere  are  TauUntians  in  Strabo  and  Ury,  aa 
vL16. 

196 


BOOK  XLIV 

The  forty-fourth  web  I  have  woven,  where  you  may 

see  maddened  women  and  the  heavy  threat 

of  Pentheus. 

Already  he  had  passed  the  Daulantian  "  tribe  of 
lUyrian  soil,  and  the  plain  of  Haimonia  and  the  Pelion 
peak,  and  was  nearing  Hellas  ;  there  he  established 
dances  on  the  Aonian  plain.  The  shepherd  hearing 
the  tune  of  the  drooning  pipes  formed  congregations 
for  Pan  at  Tanagra.  A  fountain  bubbled  on  the 
spot  where  the  horse's  wet  hoof  scratched  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground  and  made  a  hollow  for  the  water 
which  took  its  name  from  him.**  Asopos  danced 
breathing  fiery  streams,  as  he  swept  his  floods  along 
and  twirled  his  waters.  Dirce  danced,  spouting  her 
whirling  waters  along  with  her  father  Ismenos.  At 
times  a  Hamadryad  shot  out  of  her  clustering  foliage 
and  half  showed  herself  high  in  a  tree,  and  praised 
the  name  of  Dionysos  cluster-laden  ;  and  the  unshod 
nymph  of  the  spring  sang  in  tune  with  her. 

1^  The  noise  of  the  raw  cowhide  resounded  over  the 
mountains,  and  reached  the  ears  of  irreconcilable 
Pentheus.  The  impious  king  was  angry  with  winegod 
Bacchos,  and  he  armed  a  hostile  host,  calling  to  the 

*  Hippocrene. 

299 


NONNOS 

d(TT€os  €7rra7T6poio  Trfpi^pofoi  wvXiwvaf 
ol  ^€V  €TT€f<XrjiGaav  dfioifiabif,  4(aniyrjt  hi  ^ 

avrofiaroi  kAt^iSc?  antoiywyTO  wXdw¥, 
Koi  SoXixov9  nvX€U)vi  fidrrw  /W/SoAAor  4t4v 
rjcpioig  d^pdrroyrts  tpiSfiaiyovrtf  aTTOif. 
ov  Tore  Tts*  nvXawpoi  iSoif  awofipaof  B^KXip* 
l,€iXrjvovs  Bi  ytpovnxf  drtvxi^^  a4nrAdrB*  • 

€Tp€p.ov  alxiJ^rjrrjpti'  o/ioyAu>aa(^  5'  <IAaAifr^ 
K€KXofi€vov  PaaiXrjo^  d4>€thi}aamf  <SirfiA^ 
TToAAdirif  co/>xwcunro,  cn>v  fiVrvurrocf  M  fiotloif 
KVKXdSos  €cmjaaiTO  aaxtandXov  aX^  voptbft^      9$ 
diTiTVTTov  uqirjfia  ^cAoofui/Mtyuir  KoM/pimmt,        SS 
<f>pucaX€ai  o    laxTjaay  iv  ovp€<n  XtfOOoBtt  dptCTOi*     90 
Kol  y€wv  alBvaoovaa  icai  ^ImronjTov  ifnfiff  ^1 

7rdp3aAi;  mop-qro'  Xiwv  hi  rii  ofijpO¥  MSpoHF  9S 

p.€iXixiov  ppvx^fia  (nno/AiXi  nifivt  Xmlwjl,  94 

"HSr;  8*  ai>To<Ai#fTo^  iatUro  \\€¥$iot  oJiAl)  *^ 

dicAti'ectii'  o<fxupi)h6v  dvotaaovoix  ^fid&Xtmr 
Kol  7wX€d}v  b^Boyjp-o  Oopdfv  €vooijfioi¥^  woXftA, 
TTJpLaros  €GaopL€yoto  npodyytXof  €uir6§tia(rat  M 
Xaivo9  *OyKairj^  cAcAi^c ro  )3umo(  *AMri|r* 
ov  TTOTc  Kd5/xo5  cSci/xcv,  oT€  ppoivwmmt  ftm§  40 

fjLOcrxov  TTVpyobofJLOio  ^p€TrroXif  titcXaum  X'M' 
dp,(f>l  5c  ^cio)^  dyoA/ia  7roAi<raoif;(Oio  dltoiri/i 
avTOfidTr)  paddfiiyyi  0€6aGVTo^  iOXtMlf  thfitg 
hcLfia  <f>€pwv  vai-njar  koI  €k  irooof  &XP^  tcoff^ffoo 
dyycAos'  €GGop.€vwv  ppira^  *A/>€oy  ^Pp€€  XuBpm,.    45 

Kat  vaerai  B€h6vr)yTO'  4^fiu>  5*  cXcJU^cro  /iiirv 
ricv^coj  au;(^c>Toj,  c)3ouc;(ci^  5c  /x<iiou^« 
fimrjGaficvr]  -nporipoio  Sa^cMn^€VT09  o^ipav 
TTiKpa  TrpoOeGTTL^ovTos,  CTTCi  Ttdfo^  ^^toii  JUjct^MT 
cf  oT€  KOipavirjv  naTpwiov  rjp7TaG€   nci<^lci^,  SO 

300 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  19-50 

people  to  bar  the  portals  of  the  sevenway  city.  One 
by  one  they  were  shut,  but  the  locks  of  the  gates 
suddenly  opened  of  themselves  ;  in  vain  the  servants 
resisted  the  winds  of  heaven  and  set  the  long  bars 
at  each  gate.  Then  no  gate  warden  could  check 
a  Bacchant  if  he  saw  her ;  but  shielded  spearmen 
trembled  before  old  Seilenoi  unarmed — disregarding 
often  the  threats  of  their  clamouring  king,  they 
danced  with  singlethroated  acclaim  ;  with  their  well- 
made  oxhides  they  danced  the  round  in  shieldshaking 
leaps,  the  very  picture  of  the  noisy  Corybants. 
Terrible  bears  growled  madly  in  the  hills,  the  panther 
gnashed  her  teeth  and  leapt  high  in  the  air,  the  lion 
in  playful  sport  gave  a  gentle  roar  to  his  comrade 
lioness. 

35  Already  the  palace  of  Pentheus  began  of  itself  to 
tremble  and  quake,  and  started  from  its  immovable 
foundations  all  about ;  the  gatehouse  quivered  and 
sprang  up  with  earthshaking  throbs,  foretelHng  the 
trouble  to  come.  The  stone  altar  of  Oncaian  Athena 
tottered  of  itself,  that  which  Cadmos  had  built,  when 
with  slow-convincing  movement  the  heifer's  hoof  sank, 
to  bid  him  build  a  wall  and  found  a  city  ;  over  the 
divine  image  of  the  cityholding  goddess,  godsent 
sweat  beaded  in  drops  of  itself,  bringing  fear  to  the 
people — from  head  to  foot  the  statue  of  Ares  ran 
with  gore,  telling  of  things  to  come. 

*^  The  inhabitants  also  were  shaken.  The  mother 
of  boastful  Pentheus  quivered  with  fear,  mad  with 
anxiety,  remembering  that  bloody  dream  of  old  with 
its  prophecy  of  bitterness  ;  how  once,  after  Pentheus 
had  seized  his  father's  sovereignty,  Agaue  slumber- 

301 


NONNOS 

mvwxov  (mvaXioi^  oapoig  cvSomfcv  'Ayutfip 
^cuT/iara  fUfirjXoio  bt€m'oirfinv  ^(pov, 
anXav^o^  dpwoKom'a  hi*  €vtc«pdo»  mwXtAnv 
tXntro  yap  flcv^iTc  x^polrvnov  ifip^  4Wn|r 
dpa€va  KoofirjuavTa  ywaitctuf*  XP^  WwAy  §6 

pl^ai  7rop<f>vp6vwrov  M  x^((ya  ^pot  dpdimm, 
Bvpaov  €Xatftpi^oirra  teal  od  aicijwrpoto  ^Of4fa' 
Koi  fuv  iScii'  cSo^nyac  iraXiy  Ka5/<72f  'Ayatfif 
eiofXfvov  OKupoto  p.€rapatO¥  iift6Bi  bMpam' 
Koi  ff>UT6v  vtpixdprjvoy,  oirjf  Bpaadf  /{#70  n«l#ff^«  90 
$rip€S  itcvKXiUKiayro,  Kal  aypw¥  c^TOi'  ^^^'4'^ 
hh^pov  an€tXrjrrjpi  /xcTo^Aiforrfr  oh6m, 
rpTixaX^axs  y€VV€aar  rtvaatjofi^voto  M  hMpao 
KVfipaxos  avTOKvXi<rrof  €Xi(  5u«<n)rro  fltrSnt, 
Kai  fuv  ibrjXriaayTo  S€hotm6ra  XuoiMtt  iptCTOi'      M 
aypoT€trq  hi  Xtawa  Karataaovoa  vpoomwom 
7Tpvp.vod€V  €<maa€  X*^P^» 

Koi  daxrrauatvo^An^  0i^ 
nfUTOfiov  l\€v&fjo^  to€iaafi^  w6oa  Aai^ 
drryoXioii  ovvx^aai  oUBpiatv  dv64p€w¥n, 
atfuxAcoi'  Bi  Kaprjvov  €Kov^uny  dpwoyt  Topoy         to 
oltCTpd  Sa'i^ofifyov,  Kal  c5cmcwc  fxdmfpi  Km§u» 
naXXopJvf),  ppoT€rjv  h*  dXirq^iova  p'tjfaro  ^tirqif' 

"  Elfju  T€ri  duydrqp  Orjpoicrovoi'  €ifd  8^  M^*)*^ 
ricv^eos'  oXpiaroio,  rtrj  <fnXor€Kvoi  *Ayo4^. 
ttjXIkov  coAcaa  Bripa-  X€ovro^voiO  hi  ^itciff  75 

hdx^^^o  TOUTO  KapTjvov  €fiTk  irpundypum  dXtcffs* 
rqXucov  ov  ttotc  dijpa  KartKrayt  wiyyffvot  *lKtf, 
ov  Krdv€v  AvTovorj'  av  hk  avfifioXa  noi&ot  'Aywfft 
Trfjiov  apiaroTToi'OLo  t€o6  npondpoiBt  fttXJBpov.** 

Tolov  ovap  pXoavpcjnov  vnoxXoof  cOcr  'Ayainf.  80 
ivdev  ipiTTToiTjTos  dnuM7afjL€i^  TTTtpdv  Tirwow, 
302 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  51-81 

ing  on  her  bed  had  been  terrified  all  night  in  her 
sleep,  when  the  unreal  phantom  of  a  dream  had  leapt 
through  the  Gate  of  Horn  which  never  deceives,"  and 
whispered  in  her  sleepy  ear.  For  she  thought  she 
saw  Pentheus  a  dainty  dancer  on  the  road,  his  manly 
form  dressed  up  in  a  woman's  robe,  throwing  to  the 
ground  the  purple  robe  of  kings,  bearing  the  sceptre 
no  longer  but  holding  a  thyrsus.  Again,  Cadmeian 
Agaue  thought  she  saw  him  perched  high  up  in  a  shady 
tree  ;  round  the  lofty  trunk  where  sat  bold  Pentheus 
was  a  circle  of  wild  beasts,  furiously  pushing  to  root 
up  the  tree  with  the  dangerous  teeth  of  their  hard 
jaws.  The  tree  shook,  and  Pentheus  came  tumbling 
over  and  over  of  himself,  and  when  he  dumped  down, 
mad  she-bears  tore  him  ;  a  wild  lioness  leapt  in  his 
face  and  tore  out  an  arm  from  the  joint — then  the 
mad  raging  monster  set  one  paw  on  the  throat  of 
Pentheus  cut  in  two,  and  tore  through  his  gullet 
with  her  sharp  claws,  and  lifted  the  bloody  head 
in  her  ferocious  paw  piteously  lacerated,  and 
showed  it  to  Cadmos,  who  saw  it  all,  swinging  it 
about  as  she  spoke  in  human  voice  these  wicked 
words  : 

'3  **  I  am  your  daughter,  the  slayer  of  wild 
beasts  !  I  am  the  mother  of  Pentheus,  happiest  of 
men,  your  Agaue,  the  loving  mother  !  See  what  a 
beast  I  have  killed  !  Accept  this  head,  the  firstfruits 
of  my  valour,  after  victorious  slaughter  of  the  lion. 
Such  a  beast  Ino  my  sister  never  slew,  Autonoe 
never  slew.  Hang  up  before  your  hall  this  keep- 
sake from  Agaue  your  doughty  daughter." 

^^  Such  was  the  horrible  vision  that  pale  Agaue 
saw.     Then  after  she  had  shaken  off  sleep's  wing, 

«  Qf,  Horn.  Od.  xix.  m^  ff. 

303 


NO>WOS 

opOpwfi  KoMtraaa  BcrjYopw  vta  XapucXoBt, 
fidm'ias  €aaofi€vwv  tfoyiovi  tSdaftr  Jui^povf ' 
Tei/>€(7ia9  5'  €K€Xtva€  Btonpanos  ^ip9€¥a  f4fm 
ravpov,  doaariTrjpa  ha^ounfftvroi  6¥9ipov,  •• 

Zrjvos  oAcf  iKoxoto  BtoKXrfTot  vnp^  fioHiA, 
firfKcSavrjs  cAqti;;  napa  Avop€0¥,  ^(i  KlAiyfiW 
WrrraTcu  vfpitcdprjvo9'  'AuaJpiMtaot  hi  Nliyi^lg 
^At/i'  oil'  oT^fiaivt  OvtirnXitw  wopA  A^IQra* 
eyvco  5*  €fnf>pova  Bijpa  Koi  aypctfOOOWFoy    A/aifi|p   iO 
yaarpos  irk  whlva  koX  atXtoiT4tem¥  ayCmfa 

Kpwlf€v  6v€tp€irfs  dnan^XuMf  tmin  run|f» 
riev^ca  fiij  Papvftrjvw  iov  fioinkfja  yu^^g* 
7T€idofUv7j  5c  ytpovri  ao^^  ^tX&rtKvot  *Ay9Vff        M 
€iV  opo^  witucdprjvou  oficaroXof  ijt4  KdB§ui0 
\\ev6w  coTrofWuoio*  #(ai  cdirc/Mia»  «a^  /jittiyi^ 
^Aw  oti'  Kfpo^yri  awtfitrom  apowm  rwif^g 
•^i  Ato;  TTcAcv  oAao;  6p€uiSof  iiLwXnm  Aiff« 
Ziyvi  Kai  'ASpvdb^aat  ^dau  (iWow  ^VlMi'  1<A 

Ka3/io;  ^AyrjvopCBrj^,  Otortpnia  /3aMi3r  d»di^ag, 
p€^u}v  dfJLtl>oT€poiaLv  dvaTTTopJvoiO  M  irvjpaou 
lO'tcny  /X€v  7r€pi(fKnro^  iXif  owwi^vcTO  iraviMw 
cuoSfUii  OT/x)^^tyyi,  &ai{o/UM>u  o'  apa  Taip09 
opdios  ai/xoAcT^y  ai>Toa<rvroy  ouAof  ^^M'^  '^ 

X^tpo-s  €p€vdi6wvTt  ^x'w  ir6p^vp€P  *AywSns  •  •  • 
auxcViov  8€  rivovra  -ntpt^  aT€^>ayffi6m  iX^af 
oi^aXerjv  iiritcvpTOv  ir^v  boxfuooaro  5tipi)r 

flflX^XO?   CtAtKOCVTt    SpOKWV  fUTpOVfitVOf  ^^^» 

ordfifiaTi  8*  oXKaiw  K€^aXrjv  KwcXwaaro  K&f»ov    UO 
TTprqvs  o<f>i£,  Kai  yXtouaa  trtpif  Xixpa^tl^ 
fieiXix^v  <f>lXov  I6v  dTTOTTTvovaa  yov/oir 
oiyofievwv  Koi  BijXvs  0^9  furpwaaro  K6pmp 
804 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  82-113 

trembling  with  terror,  in  the  morning  she  called  in 
the  seer,  Chariclo's  son,  and  revealed  to  him  her 
dream,  the  bloody  prophecy  of  things  to  come. 
Teireisias  the  diviner  bade  her  sacrifice  a  male  bull 
to  help  against  the  bloody  dream,  at  the  altar  where 
men  call  upon  Zeus  the  Protector,  beside  the  trunk 
of  a  tall  pinetree  where  Cithairon  spreads  his  lofty 
head  ;  he  told  her  to  offer  a  female  sheep  to  the 
Hamadryad  Nymphs  in  the  thicket.  He  knew  the 
beast  as  human,  he  knew  Agaue  hunting  the  fruit 
of  her  own  womb,  the  struggle  that  killed  her  son, 
the  head  of  Pentheus  ;  but  he  concealed  in  wordless 
silence  the  deceptive  vision  of  victory  in  the  dream, 
that  he  might  not  provoke  the  heavy  wrath  of 
Pentheus  his  king.  Agaue  the  tender  mother  obeyed 
the  wise  old  man,  and  went  to  the  lofty  hill  together 
with  Cadmos  while  Pentheus  followed.  At  the  horns 
of  the  altar  Cadmos  Agenorides  made  one  common 
sacrifice  to  Zeus  and  the  Hadryads,  female  and  male 
together,  sheep  and  horned  bull,  where  stood  the  grove 
of  Zeus  full  of  mountain  trees  ;  he  lit  the  fire  on  the 
altar  to  do  pleasure  to  the  gods,  and  did  sacrifice  to 
both.  When  the  flame  was  kindled,  the  rich  savour 
was  spread  abroad  with  the  smoke  in  fragrant  rings. 
When  the  bull  was  slaughtered,  a  jet  of  bloody  dew 
spouted  straight  up  of  itself  and  stained  the  hands  of 
Agaue  with  red  blood.  ...  A  serpent  crept  with  its 
coils,  surrounding  the  throat  of  Cadmos  like  a  garland, 
twining  and  trailing  a  crooked  swollen  collar  about  it 
in  a  lacing  circle  but  doing  no  harm — the  gentle  crea- 
ture crept  round  his  head  like  a  trailing  chaplet,  and 
his  tongue  licked  his  chin  all  over  dribbling  the  friendly 
poison  from  open  mouth,  quite  harmless  ;  a  female 
snake  girdled  the  temples  of  Harmonialike  a  wreath  of 

VOL.  m  X  305 


K0XN08 

Koi  hihv^iwv  6<f>itjji'  ntrpivaaro  ywa  Kfmitm',  lU 

orri  nap*  *\XXvpiKolo  boascotrrop^rtfv  OT^fiA  Wrroo 
'AppLovirj  Kal  Kddfio^  afi€ifioiiJwoio  mpoourmm 
Xalv€i)v  TJfi€XXoy  ix^iv  o^iiuSco  lU^Mjjif.  lit 

Koi  <l)6Pov  oAAoi'  €xovaa  fitra  nporrJpov  ^ifitm  Amw  111 
v6(mp.o^  c(V  hofiov  ^A^c  aw  vUi  ttaX  yiNi(|pi.        I2S 
IloIov  iScv  iroTc  ^Ofxa,  tcai  6it4f^fwrfH  imlfou        119 
fiiTiaafUvt)  h€b6vrjro  ^ofitft  ^iXoTtKVOf  *Aya^.         I» 

"Whr)  &*  i-nraitopoio  hi    dartof  Ivroro  ^lynf        lA 
of>yia  K-qpvaaovaa  xopcmXtrndot  AiomIoov* 
oi)de  ri9  i^i'  d^opcvrof^  am  irrtUir*  ijj^ow^mp  M      Hi 
€lapivois  TTtraXoiaiy  *fUTpa/^ffaot^  iymal* 
Kal  OaXafiov  ^fitXtf^  ;(Ao€fMp  OKt^otaa  iwf^ifa 
wpA^ihiov  irmvOrjpo^  rri  trwuirra  §nptaHfO0 
avTO<f>vr)i  tp.€Ovaa€v  cAi(  ciWu^ff  KQpm^» 
<t>piKTa  6c  TraTrrao'cui'  9roAtwt5€a  An^yiirra  B^ir^^ov,  190 
^17^0^  €;^a»i'  xmtponXov,  dirxf  imyAaiWro  flfn^vr* 
icai  K€V€rjs  TTpoxtwy  imfpT]tr>oa  ic6fiWD¥  ^km^tk^t 
rotov  €7ros  hfiwtaatv  aTaaBaXof  t^X*   ncv^frfr* 

"At;8o»'  c/xov  0€pdnovTa  KOfiiaaart, 

haiwp.€vov  U€vOrjo^  wroSfrqirHfpa  rpamd^ifs,  196 

otvoBoKw  rroTov  dXXo  hiaard^ovTa  KVW^U^g 
rj  yXdyos  tj  yXvKv  ;(€U/xa'-  tcaatyyijrnfv  M  TtMOVOflt    I9S 
AvTOVOTjv  TrXrjyfjaiv  dfioifiaijfaiy  t^idoow,  U7 

Kal  nXoKap^ovs  rfi'i)(wfi€v  dK€pouc6§imf  AionSdov*    199 
KVfipaXa  8*  rixi]€vra  hiappl^tavrt^  ai/roi;  140 

Koi  ndrayov  BcpcKwra  koi  EJka  rvfiwaan  'P^Afi 
€Xk€T€  haaaapiba^  fuxvuo&ca?,  cAiccTf  Boirxof, 
d/x^tTToAou?  Bpo/xioto  oinojAy^aj,  ay  A4  0^^2| 

^  Ludu  ich  niark»  •  lacuna  here. 
S06 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  114-143 

clusters  in  her  yellow  hair.  Then  Cronion  turned  the 
bodies  of  both  snakes  into  stone,"  because  Harmonia 
and  Cadmos  were  destined  to  change  their  appear- 
ance and  to  assume  the  form  of  stone  snakes,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  snakebreeding  Illyrian  gulf.  Then 
Agaue  returned  home  with  her  son  and  her  father, 
having  a  new  fear  besides  the  fear  of  the  dream. 

^^  Such  was  the  vision  which  Agaue  had  seen,  and 
remembering  this  ominous  dream  the  fond  mother 
was  shaken  with  fear. 

123  Already  Rumour  was  flying  about  the  seven- 
gated  city  proclaiming  the  rites  of  danceweaving 
Dionysos.  No  one  there  was  throughout  the  city 
who  would  not  dance.  The  streets  were  garlanded 
with  spring  leafage  by  the  country  people.  The 
chamber  of  Semele,  still  breathing  sparks  of  the 
marriage  thunders,  was  shaded  by  selfgrowing 
bunches  of  green  leaves  which  intoxicated  the  place 
with  sweet  odours.  King  Pentheus  swelled  with 
arrogance  and  jealousy  to  see  the  terrible  wonders 
of  Bacchos  in  so  many  shapes.  Then  Pentheus 
uttered  proud  boasts  and  empty  threats  to  his 
servants  in  these  insulting  words  : 

1^  "  Bring  here  my  Lydian  slave,  that  womanish 
vagabond,  to  serve  the  table  of  Pentheus  at  his 
dinner  ;  let  him  fill  his  winebeaker  with  some  other 
drink,  milk  or  some  sweet  hquor ;  I  will  flog  my 
mother's  sister  Autonoe  with  retributive  strokes  of 
my  hands,  and  we  will  crop  the  uncropt  locks  of 
Dionysos.  Throw  to  the  winds  his  tinkling  cymbals, 
and  the  Berecyntian  din  and  Euian  tambourines  of 
Rheia.  Drag  hither  the  mad  Bassarids,  drag  the 
Bacchants    hither,   the   handmaids   who    attend   on 

<•  Imitated  from  7Z.  ii.  319,  but  given  a  new  meaning. 

307 


NONN08 

^lafirjvov  hi€pOiaiv  dxoirril^oyTtf  hfwSXoit 

iJAiKa?,  'AhpvdBas  &€  y/ijoir  Wfuro  Ki«M^        I4i 
aAAai9  'ASpud&<aaiv  ofioivya^  cM  Avoipv.  IM 

ofare  Trup,  ^cpaTroKTcy.  ^trtl  irocin|TOp»  9mii^,         I4« 
€V  TTvpo?  €4  rrcAc  Boifxo^.  iyw  nvfi  BdKXor  Moow* 

et  Sc  /cc  TTcip^acuTo  koI  ri^uripoio  KynvvoGg 
YvcjG€Tai,  otov  €x<*»  x^6vto¥  otAaf  *  oApoUom  yup 
B€pyLor€pov^  aTnvOi)pai  i^tc¥  XiY€9  dyrlrvmm  wip* 
GTjfiffMv  al0aX6€yTa  rov  apw^Xiarra  TvAiipBW. 
ci  5c  fioOov  OTY^ccc  /iayY)/iora  0tSpoo¥  Aitptm,  ^ 

ou  TToSos",  ou  Xayovwv,  oi}  <mJdfoj',  od  wfMuiMiP 

dn€iX'qv  pLtBiitovra'  tcoX  ov  PounXrjyi  $at(o» 

KvpTOL  PooKpaipoio  Ktpaara  hufoa  firrwum/^ 

ot)5€  hiarprj^cj  pAaov  a^x^vof  iXXd  4  liiffm  '•• 

€Y\€'C  ;(CiAK€taj  rtroprjfitvov  tU  WTl^jfa  firjpoO, 

orr^  Aio;  pAyaXoio  yoi'iiy  i^ftikfaro  p^pov 

Kox  tToXov  (vs  iov  ohcov  iytjj  h4  fiu^  dirrl  u/MBpon 

avrl  Ato?  TTuAccui'Oi'  Ivtprtpov  'AiSi  w^Aupm, 

r)€  fuv  avTOKvXitrrov  oXvaKa^oyra  KoXiint  >•• 

Kvp.aaiv  *lap,Tf]i'oio,  koI  ov  XP^^  4otX  BaXdamff, 

ov  8exo/xat  ^porov  di'hpa  v66o¥  0t6¥'  Ci  $4pAf  iiirco', 

ipevao pxii,  (jjs  ^lowaos,  €px>v  ytvos'  otMC  a«o  KiCBfaov 

alfia  <l>€po)  x^ovioio,  Trarnp  h*  tpos,  opxofUK  darptmf, 

'HcAlOS-   /X€    <l>VT€Va€,    KOI   OVtC   €(m€ip€¥   ^l^XU""^  ^^ 

TiKT€  ScAiyvoii;  fi€,  Koi  ovK  ^Xox^tMnv  *Ayoi^' 
6i/xi  y€vos  Kpov&ao,  Koi  alBipo^  tlpx  «oArnf(* 
ovpavos  aar€p6<f>oiros  €/xi7  woAiy  iXarc,  O^^Jcu* 
noAAas*  eV?)  TTapoMoiri^,  ffirj  5<x/iap  ofi/^poTOf  *H/ii^* 
Ilcv^ct  ftajoj'  opcfc  /KT*  *\p€a  0€<nwrts  'Hpfi,       175 
308 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  144-175 

Bromios — hurl  them  into  the  watery  beds  of  Ismenos 
here  in  Thebes,  mingle  the  Naiads  with  the 
Aonian  rivernymphs  their  mates,  let  old  Cithairon 
receive  Hadryads  to  join  his  own  Hadryads  instead 
of  Lyaios.  Bring  fire,  men,  for  by  the  law  of  ven- 
geance I  will  throw  Bacchos  into  the  fire,  if  he  came 
out  of  the  fire  :  Zeus  tamed  Semele,  I  will  destroy 
Dionysos  !  If  he  would  like  to  try  my  thunder 
also,  he  shall  learn  what  fire  I  have  from  earth ! " 
For  my  fire  has  hotter  sparks  to  match  the  heavenly 
fire.  To-day  I  will  make  the  viny  one  a  scorchy 
one  !  If  he  lift  his  thyrsus  and  give  battle,  he  shall 
learn  what  kind  of  a  spear  I  have  from  earth.  I  will 
destroy  him  without  a  wound  in  foot  or  flank,  breast 
or  belly  !  I  will  not  cut  off  the  two  crooked  horns 
from  his  bullhorned  head  with  a  poleaxe,  I  will  not 
cut  through  his  neck  :  I  will  pierce  the  fork  of  his 
thigh  with  a  blow  from  a  spear  of  bronze,  because 
of  his  lies  about  the  thigh  of  great  Zeus,  and  heaven 
as  his  home.  Instead  of  the  palace  of  Zeus,  instead 
of  his  gatehouse,  I  will  send  him  down  to  Hades, 
or  make  him  roll  himself  helpless  into  the  waves  of 
Ismenos  to  hide — we  can  do  without  the  sea  ! 

167  *'  I  ^rjii  jjQt  receive  a  mortal  man  as  a  bastard 
god.  If  I  dare  say  it,  I  will  deny  my  ow^  breeding, 
like  Dionysos.  I  have  not  in  me  the  blood  of  mortal 
Cadmos,  but  my  father  is  the  chief  of  stars — Helios 
begat  me,  not  Echion  ;  Selene  brought  me  forth,  not 
Agaue  ;  I  am  the  offspring  of  Cronides  and  a  citizen  of 
heaven,  the  sky  with  its  wandering  stars  is  my  home — 
so  forgive  me,  Thebes  !  Pallas  is  my  concubine,  im- 
mortal Hebe  my  consort.     Queen  Hera  gave  me  the 

"  He  is  "  from  earth  "  as  being  descended  from  the  earth, 
born  Spartoi. 

309 


NONNOS 
teal  iioBh^  fura  ^oifioy  ty^ivaTo  FIcvMb  Aiyf«ft* 

cos-  TTorc  <^Tpov  €<f>€vy€v  tiff  funfforijpa  mpthft, 
fiwfiov  dXiHjKd^ovaa  Kaatyyil/Tam  ^^uwafoir. 

6n\o<f>6p<H  K€V€6iaw  ipthfUkifoimt  ^bfraiff*  Its 

Kou  arparos  aoTttro^  i^  /aw  vtrvcmot  Ai}f , 

''0<f>pa  fi€v  cw-acTi^aiv  cmif  ^vrrAAcTO  flo^lfilir* 


TOiov Jnos  -npos  'OXvfinw  avuxyc  wwdyBl  Ml4^*    |90 


"*Q  r€Ko^  *HcAtoto,  noXvoTpo^tt 
apfiaro^  dpyvptoio  Kv^pvrfrtipa  ILMjmit 
€1  <w  TTcA^i?  'KKarq  TToXiHuyvfiOf,  A>w^6y  hi 
'nvpao<f>6pw  TToXdfiyj  boi-t€is  ftaOttiSftt  WvAnfr^ 
€px€o,  vvKTinoXo^,  OKvXcuccrpo^,  &rri  o«  ripmti  IM 

Aprr€pis  €l  av  TTtXti^  IXau^piXot,  hf  S  m 
V€Ppo<f>6ya)  (m€vSovQa  awaypoHia^f 
€aao  fcaatyvT^roio  PorjOoo^'  a/>;(cyrWv  ydp 
alfia  Aa^oi^  Ka5/xoio  biwKopai  itcroBi  O^^ifT*  fOO 

fn)Tpo9  €/i^9  l.€fi€Xrj^  dno  7rarp«8oy  cM|«Mor  yip 
dvrjrog  dvrjp  kXov€€i  fit  ScqfidxoS'  Off  VPXPl  ^ 

•  t:vident)y  a  folktale  cxpUining  why  S«a  (AsoB^-lidkiii) 
and  Moon  ( ArteinU-Selenc) arc  nrrcr  togrtbcr:  jnrmafviwli 
stories,  see  A.  H.  Krappe,  U  Gtmim  dst  mpthmlFth.  PkfoL 
1938).  pp.  1:^9  ff.  ,-       y       ^      j^ 

810 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  176-202 

breast  after  Ares,  divine  Leto  brought  me  forth  after 
Phoibos.  I  will  woo  Artemis,  who  wants  me — she 
does  not  run  from  me  as  she  did  from  Phoibos,  the 
wooer  of  her  maidenhood,  because  she  feared  blame 
for  wedding  with  a  brother.**  And  if  the  heavenly- 
flame  did  not  bum  your  Semele,  Cadmos  did  burn  his 
house  for  his  daughter's  shame,  and  gave  the  name  of 
lightning  to  the  earthly  fire  he  kindled,  called  the 
flame  of  torches  the  spark  of  the  thunderbolt." 

184  When  the  king  had  spoken,  his  men  of  war 
mustered  in  arms  to  fight  the  empty  winds  ;  there 
was  an  infinite  host  in  the  pinewood,  seeking  the 
tracks  of  Lyaios  ever  unseen. 

1^  But  while  Pentheus  was  giving  his  commands  to 
the  people,  Dionysos  waited  for  darksome  night,  and 
appealed  in  these  words  to  the  circHng  Moon  in 
heaven  : 

1^1  "  O  daughter  of  Helios,^  Moon  of  many  turnings, 
nurse  of  all !  O  Selene,  driver  of  the  silver  car  !  If 
thou  art  Hecate  of  many  names,  if  in  the  night  thou 
dost  shake  thy  mystic  torch  in  brandcarrying  hand, 
come  night  wanderer,  nurse  of  puppies  because  the 
nightly  sound  of  the  hurrying  dogs  is  thy  delight  with 
their  mournful  whimpering.  If  thou  art  staghunter 
Artemis,  if  on  the  hills  thou  dost  eagerly  hunt  with 
fawnkilling  Dionysos,  be  thy  brother's  helper  now  ! 
For  I  have  in  me  the  blood  of  ancient  Cadmos,  and  I 
am  being  chased  out  of  Thebes,  out  of  my  mother 
Semele 's  home.  A  mortal  man,  a  creature  quickly 
perishing,  an  enemy  of  god,  persecutes  me.     As  a 

*•  So  first  in  Eurip.  Phoen.  175,  of  surviving  works,  but 
the  scholiast  there  says  it  comes  in  "  Aeschylus  and  others  of 
the  more  scientific  {(f>vaiKa>T€poi) .writers."  It  is  indeed  more 
astronomical  than  mythological,  since  the  moon's  light  is 
from  the  sun.     Usually  she  is  the  sun's  sister. 

311 


NONNOS 

€1  §€  ai  U€pa€4>6vtta  yttcvaaotK,  vfJrtpat  M 
ilwx^  Tafnapioiaiv  vrro&p^oaovm  Boamoif,  »(> 

v€Kp6v  Soi  ricK^.  teal  axyviUvmt  ikumnioov 
Sdtcpvov  €wrja€i€  r€o^  ifnfXwrr^Xot  *E^ll^ 

Taprapij)  /iacrriyi  XaBi^pova  maOomf  chrtiA^r 
Triy€V€os  II €1'^^,  cVei  hvaiiTixBUfOi  'H^  tlO 

oipiyovov  TiTiTva  v^<f9  Outpffift  Al«/9». 
oAAa  aif  <f>wTa  bdfAa€Tao¥  Mofuov,  &^pa  y^^aiffgf 
apx^yovov  TLaypfjo^  itrurtrvfilrpf  ^UM^ioov, 
Z€v  dva»  fcai  av  hoKtvt  fitfiriv^ros  Mp^  ^vriAi{r* 
kXvBi,  irdrtp  kou  iirfttp'  iXtyxQiUvov  W  Avalov      216 
arj  ar€po7rq  yofuiy  £</i/^v^  n^v^Ojpof  iarm." 
*Q?  <f>ap€i'ov  ravporrtu:  dvlaxtv  &f6$i  lfi|M|* 

<n}y  (rra<f>vXij^  aXtyil^t'  fAfXti  W  fUH  Sfya  Bd^xov, 
vfxer^pwv  ort  yaia  ^nnutv  cudcKi  wtwah'n  290 

fiapfiapvyqv  hpoo6€aaai'  (uroifii^roco  £tXi)n7( 
86;^/Lio'T^-  <ru  8<',  Iiaif;^€  x9polrw€,  Bvpoa  rtrab^wv 
arjs  ycvtrrjs  oAc'ytJc,  *fa4  ov  rpo^tis  y^vof  aa«8|pafr 
dSpai'caiv,  of;  kov<^  act  i^oof,  cur  «rai  (MyK|| 
Eu/ieviBiu^  ftaoTtyc;  a»*a<rr<AAov(nv  autiXis,  gg 

ovv  aot  bvap.€V€€oai  tcopvaaofiof  taa  M  Bciiryy 
KOipav€W  fxavirj^  €T€p6^povof'  cij^l  M  Mijny 
BcMc;(ia?,  ovx  ore  /xotrtT>»'  rv  aW4p*.  fiijmit  iXiaow, 
dAA*  ori  #cai  fiavirj^  fifS^ut  Koi  Xvaaop  iytlfm* 


•  Cj\  on  15i. 
312 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  203-229 

being  of  the  night,  help  Dionysos  of  the  night,  when 
they  pursue  me  !  If  thou  art  Persephoneia,  whipper- 
in  of  the  dead,  and  yours  are  the  ghosts  which  are 
subservient  to  the  throne  of  Tartaros,  let  me  see 
Pentheus  a  dead  man,  and  let  Hermes  thy  musterer 
of  ghosts  lull  to  sleep  the  tears  of  Dionysos  in  his 
grief.  With  the  Tartarean  whip  of  thy  Tisiphone, 
or  furious  Megaira,  stop  the  foolish  threats  of 
Pentheus,  this  son  of  earth,"  since  implacable  Hera 
has  armed  a  lateborn  Titan  against  Lyaios.  I  pray 
thee,  master  this  impious  creature,  to  honour  the 
Dionysos  who  revived  the  name  of  primeval  Zagreus.^ 
Lord  Zeus,  do  thou  also  look  upon  the  threat  of  this 
madman.  Hear  me,  father  and  mother!  Lyaios 
is  contemned:  let  thy  marriage  lightning  be  the 
avenger  of  Semele  !  " 

21'  To  this  appeal  bullface  ^  Mene  answered  on 
high : 

218  "  Night-illuminating  Dionysos,  friend  of  plants, 
comrade  of  Mene,  look  to  your  grapes  ;  my  concern  is 
the  mystic  rites  of  Bacchos,  for  the  earth  ripens  the 
offspring  of  your  plants  when  it  receives  the  dewy 
sparkles  of  unresting  Selene.  Then  do  you,  dancing 
Bacchos,  stretch  out  your  thyrsus  and  look  to  your 
offspring ;  and  you  need  not  fear  a  race  of  puny  men, 
whose  mind  is  light,  whose  threats  the  whips  of  the 
furies  repress  perforce.  With  you  I  mil  attack  your 
enemies.  Equally  with  Bacchos ,  I  rule  distracted 
madness.  I  am  the  Bacchic  Mene,  not  alone  because 
in  heaven  I  turn  the  months,  but  because  I  command 
madness  and  excite  lunacy.     I   will  not  leave   un- 

^  With  this  string  of  the  moon's  identifications  with  various 
goddesses,  cf.  the  similar  list  of  the  sun's  names,  xl.  369  ff. 

*  So  called  because  her  exaltation  {vipcofia)  is  in  Taurus  ; 
this  is  astrology,  not  myth. 

313 


NONNOS 

ov  x6ovir)v  atdtv  vfipw  iyut  tn^woum^ 

TJSrf  yap  KvKOOpyo^  an€iXrmf  AmmSv^* 

o  TTpiv  tojv  raxvyowo^,  6  Sicuumaf  S(v  \ 

TiM^Ao?  oAttcwci  fcal  Scvrnu  i)yf|uir^. 

rjSrj  8*  dfjL4>l  r€voyTn^  ^EpvBpalmf  hotmie^imf 

K€KXiTai  €v6a  teal  Ma,  rtijf  oM^rytkH  iXxtjit,    «» 

a<l>pova  ^rjpiaSrja  narrip  tKpw^  *X%i9Wlft 

€yx(ii  KiGcrq€VTi  r€rvfifUvov  airap  6  ^tfiytatf 

irarpww  fiapvdoyri  tcarrf^i  vtvrc  fi^pq^* 

Tvparjvol  3€&ia<7t  r^ov  ad^POf,  ^m6ft  mfAf  MO 

6p0iO9  laros  ofuiirro  jcoa  aftWtX6€t/f  tr^W  4pvi|f 

aiVroTcA^?,  to  Si  XaZ^  M  amttpeioi  ■<ii^wg 

rip,€piBwv  €u/3oTpv9  camdfifTO  imMrTpif, 

K-at  irpoTovoi  avpi^ov  4YiMf€m  teopf^fkp 

lo^Xoi,  pportrfv  Si  ifwfp^  tcoi  ix44ljpoim  fiaMj^       ^^ 

Svap,€V€€^  pHiaxTt^  a^ifiofUvo40  wpOOWW09 

curcri  #ccii/xa{ou<n  iroi  iv  poSloif  ^imwHfpg 

ota  KvPuTTrjr7Jp€^  iiriaKaipovai  yoX% 

KoX  V€KV^  vp,€r€pcj  ^^oXrjfUvof  i(4i 

X€Vfiaai,v  *Aa<Tvpioim  KoXiirrtrtu  *I»«5of  *0|ptfrriK» 

€ta€Ti  Scifiaivujv  Kal  cV  vSaaw  ovMyia  l^dtqfov. ' 

o^pa  /i€v  ciWrt  lioK^oj  6p.iXt€  tamX£U  iAi^f), 
r6<l>pa  Sc  Kal  Zayprji  ;^apc{o/ACKi}  AlOMfoto  185 

Il€pG€<l>6vr)  Owpr^^tv  *Efx»aAa9,  dxvu|«<^  M 
Q^iyovw  -xpaiayiria^  Kaatyvi^tp  ^^io¥vatp. 

Ai  Si  Acos  ;(0oi'u>io  ^vadvrci  V€i^/«aTt  KOpaif^ 
Eu/Li€v^€9  IIcviJiToy  infarpaTOiifyro  fJLtXoBpqt, 
d>v  7)  fiiv  ^o<f>€poio  SiadpwoKovaa  fUpiBpov  200 

Taprrapiriv  cAcAiJcv  €;(i5i^<7a(iv  liiaaBXfff^ 
314 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  230-261 

punished  earthly  violence  against  you.  For  already 
Lycurgos  who  threatened  Dionysos,  so  quick  of  knee 
once,  who  sharply  harried  the  Mainads,  is  a  bUnd  vaga- 
bond who  needs  a  guide.  Already  over  the  stretches 
of  Erythraian  reedbeds  a  crowd  of  Indians  lie  dead 
here  and  there,  dumb  witnesses  to  your  valour,  and 
foolish  Deriades  has  been  swallowed  up  in  the  un- 
willing stream  of  his  father  Hydaspes,  pierced  with 
an  ivy  spear — yes,  he  fled  and  fell  into  the  sad  stream 
of  his  despondent  father.  The  Tyrsenians  learnt 
your  strength,  when  the  standing  mast  of  their  ship 
was  changed,  and  turned  into  a  vinestock  of  itself,  the 
sail  spread  into  a  shady  canopy  of  leaves  of  garden- 
vine  and  rich  bunches  of  grapes,  the  forest  ays  whistled 
with  clumps  of  serpents  hissing  poison,  your  enemies 
threw  off  their  human  shape  and  intelligent  mind  and 
changed  their  looks  to  senseless  dolphins  wallowing 
in  the  sea — still  they  make  revel  for  Dionysos  even 
in  the  surge,  skipping  like  tumblers  in  the  calm 
water.  Indian  Orontes  also  is  dead,  struck  by  your 
sharp  thyrsus,  and  drowned  in  the  Assyrian  floods, 
still  fearing  the  name  of  Bacchos  even  under  the 
waters." 

2^  Such  was  the  answer  of  the  goldenrein  deity  to 
Bromios.  But  while  Bacchos  yet  conversed  with  cir- 
cling Mene,  even  then  Persephone  was  arming  her 
Furies  for  the  pleasure  of  Dionysos  Zagreus,  and  in 
wrath  helping  Dionysos  his  later  born  brother. 

258  Then  at  the  grim  nod  of  Underworld  Zeus,  the 
Furies  assailed  the  palace  of  Pentheus.  One  leapt 
out  of  the  gloomy  pit  swinging  her  Tartarean  whip 
of  vipers ;    she   drew   a  stream  from    Cocytos   and 

^  'PeCrjs  MS. :  Kovprqs  Koch,  Kopaiqs  Graefe,  Ludwich. 

315 


NONNOS 

KojKVTov  Be  pifBpov  apvtro  ical  £ruyof  Att^, 
KoX  x^ovijj  paBdiuyyt  Sofuwf  ipotuvtv  *A\wkfg  .  •  • 
ota  TrpoQeaTrl^omu  yoov  Ktd  ooKoua  Of^pffg' 
^Atcral-qv  8c  udxaipav  dn   'Ar&Ao9  i^yoyv  BaifUtt¥,  Mi 
dpxd^rju  'InMoio  fuai^dvw,  f  wont  fti^^ 
UpoKvrj  BvfioXtaiva  aw  ia^po^infm  OiAo/ii^A]} 
TrjXvy€rqv  wStva  Scarfii/fcum  tn^pip 
TToi&opopu)  Trjpfji  ^iXriv  hiUTp€vaaTO  ^ojMfr 

dpx€KdKoi9  dyvxtaat  StayAu^^oa  iiQvftff 
^ArriKov  €Kpv4f€v  dop  dp€mn4ihm  ^^^^JftlB 

fUXX€  dapthf  dxdpnjvQi-  ^ira|ii{aaoa  hk  tfSf)^^ 
Topyovo^  dpruf>6voio  rtdppvrov  aXfta  M^oa^arft       Tt$ 
iropi^vp€at9  txpiot  Aifiwrriin  hMptm  idotmne, 
KOX  rd  fi€v  iv  OKondXoif  rc^^i^i^oaTO  M<>*PBf  ^F^iiTj. 
*0p6valois  ht  noBtaat  5o^uiir  iwMjtm/ro  UBfiov 


alBvaawv  Kpovirjv  fLaviw^a  11  a<^  ^pioomjr* 
poKx^voas  o    dxdXivov  Wpiaraioto  yvraaro 


AvTOVOTjv  €KdX€aa€,  Kol  tax*  Bvidhi  ^ff^' 

vUo9  ci9  vpi€vau3v  tpthpLoivtif  Kol  *(MdlMmtfi' 

al$€pos  rjpnaoa^  ^^X^»  <*^<^  ^X^  ^^9^  dtcoitrff  SM 

'ApTCfjiis  *AKraujjva  #ccu  *E»<Spftiaim  £iAifny« 

ov  6dv€v  ^Atcraiwv,  ovk  cXAa;^  ^^P^ 

ov  OTiKrij^  cAa^oio  rcuofyAc^y^*^  kc/w/tt, 

ou  vo^oi'  efSos*  cScffTo,  fcoi  ovir 


•  Since  all  this  was  in  Thrace,  it  b  hard  to  Me  bovllMkBiiB 
got  to  Attica«  even  though  the  two 

S16 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  262-290 

water  from  Styx,  and  drenched  Agaue's  rooms  with 
the  infernal  drops  as  if  with  a  prophecy  of  tears 
and  groanings  for  Thebes ;  and  the  deity  brought 
that  Attic  knife  from  Attica,  which  long  before 
murdered  Itylos,  when  his  mother  Procne  with  heart 
Hke  a  lioness,  helped  by  murderous  Philomele,  cut 
with  steel  the  throat  of  the  beloved  child  of  her 
womb,  and  served  up  his  own  son  for  cannibal 
Tereus  to  eat.«  This  knife,  the  channel  of  blood- 
shed, the  Fury  held,  and  scratching  up  the  dust  with 
her  pernicious  fingernails  she  buried  the  Attic  blade 
among  the  hillgrown  roots  of  a  tall  fir,  among  the 
Mainads,  where  Pentheus  was  to  die  headless. 
She  brought  the  blood  of  Gorgon  Medusa,  scraped 
off  into  a  shell  fresh  when  she  was  newly  slain, 
and  smeared  the  tree  with  the  crimson  Libyan 
drops.  This  is  what  the  mad  Fury  did  in  the 
mountains. 

278  Now  with  darkling  steps  night-illuminating 
Dionysos  entered  the  palace  of  Cadmos,  wearing 
the  head  of  a  bull,  cracking  Pan's  Cronian  ^  whip 
of  madness,  and  put  madness  into  the  unbridled 
wife  of  Aristaios.  He  called  Autonoe  and  cried  in 
wild  tones — 

^^  **  Autonoe,  happier  far  than  Semele — for  by 
your  son's  late  marriage  you  can  rival  Olympos 
itself!  You  have  seized  the  honours  of  the  skies, 
now  Artemis  has  got  Actaion  for  her  dainty  leman, 
and  Selene  Endymion  !  Actaion  never  died,  he 
never  took  the  shape  of  a  wild  creature,  he  had  no 
antlered  horn  of  a  dappled  deer,  no  bastard  shape, 
no  false  body,  he  saw  no  hounds  hunting  and  killing 

^  Because  Pan  is  descended  by  one  way  or  another  from 
Cronos. 

317 


NONNOS 

oAAa  KaKoyXatautav  arofidrww  ircvt^^popi  fM^ 
vUo9  vfJL€r€poio  fiopov  ifttvoayro  Porijptf, 
yvix<f)iov  (xOaipoiTi^  dyvfi^€ihoto  $€iihnft» 
oZ3a,  n66€v  SoXoi  o^of'  iv    iXXoTalot€  Spumiotf 
€(V  ydfiov,  ciV  Ila^'i/v  {i^ijj^ioWir  <t<9t  ytwoorcr. 
dAAd  6v€XXij€yTi  hia0pil>at€owm,  ««SA^ 
a7rcu5€  /ioActv  oKiXfJTOf  it  ovpta'  MuB9i 
6ili€ai  Wtcrauvva  ovi^ypcuooorra  Avn(^, 
"Apre^v  ryyvf  ^xovra,  koI  aioXa  hiimm  ^^pft 
ci^po/u5a9  4>op€ovm,  kqX  dfi^^6tm¥Ta  ^optfrpip. 

ciV  ydfiov  €pxofi4i^  invpi^  w4Xtt  taj^aifUfr 
*\vovs  KoXXiTOKoio  fiOKOpr^pffi,  &m  0(oa^ 
ao9  9rai9  cXXa;(C  Xttrrpa,  rd  /i^  A^ycr^Qrof  ^yi^Mi^. 
ov  dpaavs  *iiputtp  ntXt  iifpi^lof  wXiO^py. 
Xdpfiari  8*  TjPi^af  aiOtv  vUoi  f&ctn 

a^iwv  ri€pioi9  aW/uuf  ;i^ioM(f5€a  ;^Tip. 

€Yp€Ot  Koi  (TV  ytvoio  Yafi€xrT^Xof,  ciAoyf  fi^frtfp' 

dppL€vos  ovTO^  'Epcj^,  ort  yvfA^io¥  'A^rc/uf  dyrij     SIO 

vfa  #caCTiyj^oto,  koI  ov  f/ww  cfx^  <l*fo/Ti|r. 

oAAd  ^€d  ^yyc>5€^»t>9  ctttJi'  irorc  frcuSa  AoxttiO|y, 

vtca  Kov<f>i^ov<ra  aaoiftpovo^  loxtoipfff 

'Tqx^i  naiSoKOfJUp  ^-qXrifioix  htlfov  *Ayai^. 

ri9  v4pL€aU  TTort  toOto,  Kwoaaoog  tl  vo^  «o<rr«|9  Sid 

rj$€X€  Br^prjTTJpa  XaywPoXov  via  XoxtBao^ 

cuccAoi/  *A/cTata>»'i  <j>LXo<jK<yn4Xip  T€  Kiipi(r||« 

firjrpwwv  IXdffxjov  €7roxrjfUvov  cuWi  U^p^;" 


318 


DIONYSIACA,  XLIV.  291-318 

him.  No,  these  were  all  herdsmen's  lies,  empty- 
minded  fables  of  malicious  tongues  about  your  son's 
fate,  because  they  hated  the  bridegroom  of  an  un- 
wedded  goddess.  I  know  where  this  invention  came 
from  :  women  are  jealous  about  marriage  and  love 
in  others.  Come,  leap  up  with  stormy  shoe  !  Make 
haste,  speed  into  the  mountains  !  There  you  shall 
see  Actaion  beside  Lyaios  on  the  hunt,  with  Artemis 
not  far  off,  woven  nets  in  his  hands  and  hunting-boots 
on  his  feet,  fingering  his  quiver.  Happier  far  than 
Semele,  Autonoe  !  for  a  goddess  came  to  you  for 
marriage,  a  goddess  became  your  gooddaughter,  the 
Archeress  herself !  More  blessed  than  that  mother 
Ino  proud  of  her  son,  for  your  son  got  the  bed  of 
a  goddess,  which  proud  Otos  never  got.  Bold  Orion 
was  never  bridegroom  of  the  Archeress.  Your 
Cadmos  is  young  again  with  joy  for  your  son's  bride, 
and  holds  revel  beside  their  bridal  bed  in  the  moun- 
tains, with  his  snowy  hair  fluttering  in  the  airy  breeze. 
Wake  up,  and  make  one  in  the  marriage  company, 
happy  mother  !  This  is  a  proper  love,  for  holy 
Artemis  has  a  brother's  son  for  bridegroom,  not  a 
stranger  husband.  And  when  the  goddess  who  hated 
marriage  brings  forth  a  child,  you  shall  dandle  the 
son  of  the  chaste  Archeress  in  your  cherishing  arms 
and  make  Agaue  jealous  at  the  sight !  Why  should 
not  the  huntress  be  pleased  to  bear  a  son  in  her  bridal 
chamber,  a  hunter  himself  and  a  marksman,  like 
Actaion,  or  Cyrene  who  loved  the  mountains,  and 
let  him  ride  behind  his  mother's  team  of  swift  deer .''  " 


319 


AIONimAKaN  TEXSAPAKOITON 
IIEMIITON 

n€fi7rrov  TcatrofKucooTor  iw6^aA, 

ompoM  IICMWpy 
Tovpov  irtio^yyti  KtptuXiUof  ibrri  AmUov. 

yvfnf>iov  *A#rrauuKt  trapi)/i€Mir  M^ptaXpH* 

ciff  opo5  aicp7^/iM>f  ofuifTtM  luwf^f    Ayoviy, 

aGKonov  ippoiphr^at  fiffifj¥6n  X*^^  ^imA^' 

dapaaXtTjv  ot4  Ko^/iOf  *A/ia{opa  rCifrfr   A)^BVi|r. 

#cat  yv/zi^y  naXdfirjatv  oAor  McvMi  8a|i 
icai  arpari-qv  €VonXov  drtvx^i  X^ifl  ootfm, 

dvpOOV   €XW   p,€\lTJ^   OV   BtVOfJUU,   o6  b6pl9  W«MB0* 

ryp^cl'  5*  d/xTTcAoci^i  Sopuoodor  ai^lpa  /nMm* 
ou  <f>op€w  OatprjKa,  Koi  €vdwfn)Ka  on|*rflWW»» 
Kvp.paXa  b*  aWvoaovaa  kcu  ofi/^wX^fya  fiothff 
KvBalvcj  Aios  via,  koI  ov  11  cv^^  ytpaipm. 
AvSid  fioi  8oT€  poirrpa-  ri  fUXXm,  $viai€t  «p<w; 
i^ofjLai  €iV  a/coWAoi;?,  o^t  MoutiScf,  ^x*  ywi^ofcf 
320 


BOOK  XLV 

See  also  the  forty-fifth,  where  Pentheus  binds  the 
bull  instead  of  stronghom  Lyaios. 

When  Bromios  had  spoken,  the  nymph  rushed  from 
the  house  possessed  by  joyous  madness,  that  she 
might  see  Actaion  as  bridegroom  seated  beside  the 
Archeress ;  along  with  her  as  she  hastened  swift  as 
the  wind  sped  Agaue  to  the  mountain,  with  stag- 
gering steps,  unveiled,  frenzied,  the  sting  of  the 
Cronian«  whip  flogging  her  wits,  while  she  poured 
out  these  heedless  words  from  her  maddened  lips  : 

®  "  I  rebel  against  that  ridiculous  Pentheus,  to 
teach  him  what  a  bold  Amazon  is  Agaue  the  daughter 
of  Cadmos  !  I  too  am  chockfull  of  valour.  If  I  like, 
I  will  tame  all  Pentheus  even  with  my  bare  hands, 
and  I  Mill  destroy  his  well-armed  host  with  no  weapon 
in  my  hand  !  I  have  a  thyrsus  ;  ashplant  I  want  not, 
no  spear  I  shake — with  viny  lance  I  strike  the  spear- 
shaking  man  !  I  wear  no  corselet,  but  I  ^vill  tame 
the  man  who  wears  the  best.  Shaking  my  cymbals 
and  my  tambour  which  I  beat  on  both  sides  I  magnify 
the  son  of  Zeus,  I  honour  not  Pentheus.  Give  me  the 
Lydian  drums — why  do  ye  delay,  ye  hours  of  festival  ? 
I  will  come  to  the  hills,  where  Mainads,  where  women 

<*  Hardly  more  definite  than  "  divine,"  all  the  Olympians 
being  related  in  one  way  or  another  to  Cronos. 

VOL.  Ill  Y  321 


NOKNOS 

TJXt,K€9  aypwaaovTi  awaypotatjown  Atwi/y,  It 

etV  QKOTr€Xov9  d/ftxT/TOf  (Acmto/mu,  ^^IP^  *®^  «^"i 

ovK€Ti  Porpv6€iTo^  d»xim>/uu  ojpvta  BdUryov,  M 

ouKCTt  BaaaafH^i"  arvydut  XPf^'  ^^^  '(■■^  *^^ 

6^  Aios*  vdtipthovroi  dYvrXwoarro  K^pmmmL 
€aoopai  tJKxmthiXof ,  oui^AvSof  ^yto^Wf 

%ls  ^fUvri  irtfTOTTiTo  v4fi  ottalpovoi 
XrjvaiT)^  fuBinovoa  ^cAnnor  oA^  voptifftt 
BoKYoy  dvcvdfouoa  «rcu  cUaSoimio  &iwwi>y 
Kou  iLcficAi;!'  vnartHo  Aao(  irurAiyam  ^wmbSmk, 
Kat  acAaf  €v<f>a€a>v  yafLuu¥  iXiyaum  iryaiiwflr.  3S 

Kat  x^P^^  <^  OKOvdXoioiP  im  woXit' 

laxov  i-rrramjXov  5c  ncSoi'  «c/MM|pOii«  041^ 

i};^  noiKiXofiop^o^-  ofioyXutaat^  5*  AoAjpiA 

fji€X7TOfi€V(vv  PapvSovnoi  iirtafAOf^ytfot  KmOipfSm* 

Kai  bpoo6€i9  KcAd^TTacv  aXof  tcrvwog'  ^  3J  a«^)o«U  40 

h€vhp€a  KUifid^oiTa  Koi  avb^oim^  immmff* 

Kai  ns  €ov  doAdfioio  xopoirvwof  hAopt  woi^pn, 

avAo?  OT€  Tprjroiai  nopoif  laYfjat  K€p6anjt' 

Kai  Krv7ro9  dp,<t>ifi6rjro^  dB€ifnp^HO  fiotint 

napdiviKas  pdKX€va€v,  air*  ciMrrofr  M  lUkiBftm  4i 

€iV  opos  wpixdprjvov  €fnjfidba9  ffXaot  B^irxaf. 

#cai  Tis-  dvoLorpTjOtlaa  ^AAi^cvrt  frtSA^f 

KovpT)  XvouOeipa  hUouvro  irap$€V€W¥Of, 

K€pKiba  KoXXeupaaa  koI  larxyr4Xua»  'AM^ifr- 

#cai  irXoKdpxjjv  oKOfjuarov  dnoppujnaa  teaAvwTp>^    to 

SS2 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  20-50 

of  like  years,  join  the  hunt  of  hunting  Lyaios.  O 
Dionysos,  I  am  jealous  of  Cyrene  lionslayer  !  Spare 
me  Bromios,  O  thou  rebel  against  heaven — spare 
him,  O  Pentheus !  I  will  come  at  speed  into  the 
hills,  that  I  too  may  sing  Euios  and  twirl  a  dan- 
cing foot.  No  longer  I  refuse  the  rites  of  grapegod 
Bacchos,  no  longer  I  hate  the  Bassarids'  dance  ;  but 
I  too  stand  in  awe  of  Dionysos,  offspring  of  the  bed 
incorruptible,  bathed  by  thunderbolts  from  Zeus  on 
high.  Swift  will  my  shoes  go,  as  I  carry  nets  beside 
the  Archeress,  no  longer  the  skeins  of  Athena." 

31  So  crying  she  flew  away,  a  new  skipping  Mimal- 
lon,  practising  the  Euian  leap  of  the  winepress,  calling 
Euoi  to  Bacchos  and  lauding  Thyone — aye,  and  she 
called  to  Semele,  wife  of  Zeus  the  highest,  and  loudly 
sang  the  brightness  of  those  bridal  lightnings. 

3^  Then  there  was  great  dancing  on  the  hills.  The 
rocks  resounded  all  about,  a  thousand  new  noises 
rolled  round  the  land  of  sevengate  Thebes ;  the 
one  concordant  chorus  of  the  singers  filled  Cithairon 
with  heavy-echoing  din ;  the  dewy  salt  sea  roared ; 
one  could  see  trees  making  merry,  and  hear 
voices  from  the  rocks.  Many  a  maiden  ran  out 
of  her  room  to  foot  it  in  the  dance,  when  the  pipe 
of  horn  tootled  through  its  drilled  holes,  and  the 
double  blows  on  the  raw  hide  made  the  girls  go 
mad,  and  drove  them  from  their  well-built  halls 
to  be  Bacchants  in  the  wilderness  of  the  lofty 
mountains.  Many  a  maiden  driven  crazy  shook 
her  hair  loose  and  rushed  with  stormy  shoe  from 
her  chamber,  leaving  loomcomb  and  Athena  with  her 
craft,  cast  away  the  veil  unheeded  from  her  hair, 

323 


NOKNOS 
fAiay€ro  Baaaapt5€<7cn  tccu  'Aoi4f  iwAtro  odtt^p^^ 

Pwfiov  dvatrrqaa^,  iva  Fl  n^/oc  tf^pt^  ^iP^fjf 
Ktti  xo^ov  a-npTiwTov  anoatcth^otit  Avoiom* 
dXXa  fid-nji'  IxtTivatv,  tnti  Amir  iJAvfc  lio£m.      M 

Tdptaias  8*  o/u$^Toy  <or  «o6a  MtfM 
Mt/ySot'iV  ^P^O^  Kwfio¥  <murpovwr  Am^ay» 
€iV  x^P^*'  olaaovTi  trvvtfinopat  ^  Ktflyiy 
yr^paXiov  vdpBrjKi  BtoMt  irif^vf^  ifitloof. 
adprjaag  8<  ytpovraf  o^i)Ati6af  0|<^iaTt  Aof^^ 
Tcipcauxv  icai  Ka5;ioK  araotfoAof  Saxc  flii^fA* 
"  Ka5/i€,  Ti  fiapyaiy€ii; 

Kd5/ic,  /x(aii'o/i€n^  airoiraT^o  «ri490i^  Mtfyffff, 
Kdr9€o  Kai  vdpdr^Ka  vooitXav4ot  ^U>¥6omf 
'OycaiTjs-  5*  amctpc  aao^pova  xqXk^i^  *Atfl)n|^. 
ioj7rt€  Tcip^aia,  art^inj^pt,  fXn^o^  ^i^roic 
acDv  nXoKafiwv  rd^  ^XXa,  vcdc¥  tnd^f 

<irrt  «  M^0DV 
^oiPov  fjioXXov  a€ip€  rr^  *\afiipnia  hd4f^» 
alhfofiai  a€o  yrjpag,  afi€rpofiiut¥  6^  #rai  o^roir 
fuipTVpa  acjv  €T€Uiv  noXirjv  irAoirafuSci  ytpaipm* 
€1  fii7  yap  ToSc  y^pay  cpt^rvc  «r<u  onfo  X**"?* 
KOi  ^€v  dAt;#(T07r€877<7tv  cyctf  o^o  )fC^Mic  4Xi(os 
Bdafiiov  d^Avocvri  #farca^p7ytotra  lukiBp^. 

•  Tbcbui. 
324 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  51-77 

mingled  with  Bassarids — and  lo  !  Aionian  <*  turned 
Bacchant ! 

^2  Teiresias  built  an  altar  to  Protecting  Dionysos 
and  sacrificed  there,  that  he  might  prevent  the  de- 
fiance of  Pentheus  and  avert  the  wrath  of  Lyaios 
yet  unappeased  ;  but  his  prayers  were  in  vain,  since 
the  thread  of  Fate  was  there.  The  wise  seer  called 
Semele's  father  also,  that  they  might  share  the  dance 
of  Dionysos.  With  heavy  feet  ancient  Cadmos 
danced,  crowning  his  snowy  hair  with  Aonian  ivy, 
and  Teiresias  his  old  comrade  wheeled  a  sluggish 
foot,  beating  a  Phrygian  revelstep  for  Mygdonian 
Dionysos  ;  so  he  joined  the  eager  efforts  of  Cadmos 
hastening  to  the  dance,  and  supported  his  old  arm 
on  a  pious  fennel  stalk.  Pentheus  the  hothead  saw 
old  Teiresias  and  Cadmos  there  together,  and  look- 
ing askance  at  them  cried  out — 

^^  "  Why  this  madness,  Cadmos  ?  What  god  do 
you  honour  with  this  revel  ?  Tear  the  ivy  from  your 
hair,  Cadmos,  it  defiles  it !  And  drop  that  fennel  of 
Dionysos,  the  deluder  of  men's  wits  !  Take  up  the 
bronze  ^  of  Athena  Oncaia,  which  makes  men  sane. 
Foolish  Teiresias  to  wear  that  garland  !  Throw  these 
leaves  to  the  winds,  that  false  chaplet  on  your  hair. 
Take  up  rather  the  Ismenian  laurel  of  your  own 
Phoibos,  instead  of  a  thyrsus.  I  respect  your  old  age, 
I  honour  the  hoary  locks  that  witness  to  the  years  of 
your  life,  as  old  as  theirs.  But  if  this  old  age  and 
this  your  hair  did  not  save  you,  I  had  twisted 
galling  bonds  about  your  hands  and  sealed  you  up 
in  a  gloomy  cell. 

''  Possibly  a  spear,  but  it  may  be  an  instrument  of  some 
sort  used  in  her  cult ;  we  know  little  or  nothing  of  the  ritual 
of  Onca. 

325 


NONNOS 

009  v6o9  ov  fu  X^XrjBt'  av  yap  nffv#%  fi^yalptm 

^avTOGwais  boXtrfOi  i'6$0¥  Bt^  Mfa  TVl^XOrt 

hwpa  Xafiwv  Avboio  nap*  dt^dpof  ^pomlfot, 

hwpa  TToXvxpvooio  ^TiiofUvov  vorofioib. 

dXX*  €p€€i9,  oTi  Boxxoy  ^wo^ripr  c^mv 

olyo9  d(t  fJnOvotrraf  i^Xitrrm  tig    A^ 

ctV  ^POf  daraS^ot  v6a¥  MpOf  otwT  rfyrijptl. 

Xpuaca  Yr<7rAa  ^pu>v,  od  rc/9^Aaf ,  ^H^ibtm  Zt^ 
doTpdirrti  fiandpfaai'  teal  dufipdoi  fuJ^Wirat  'Apiff 
XoAxcow  cyxo^  <X^^'*  ^'^^  o&ova  ft^pmsr  dU(pc«r* 
ou  /3o€oif  Kipd€aai  K€paa^6pof  ifnip  *Aw^XXmf, 
fit)  trorafio^  ^fuXrit^  witi^fiioaro,  teal  Wire  nf^^fO 
ufa  KO^ov  #cc/>ocvra  Pootcpalptp  mfimtoirji; 

ouyyovof  €yxo9  c^^uaa  iral  cUrvAa 

lloAMr  *A^iH  •  .  .  . 
atytSa  fcai  ov  Tirana  rcov  Kpoi'Aoo  ftwr^oi'." 
*0;  <l>afi€vov  IIci'^^  d^ifirro  ftdimf  /y/^^cur*  M 
"  Ti  KAoKC€ty  AiottHToi',  5r  ijpooffv  ^K^ihtm  itvt, 
ov  Kpovlhr]^  whivt  narffp  ^Ja^^4M  fi^jp^t 
naiBoKOfiw  5c  yoAcurri  Brtfrdtcot  frpt^  'pMaf, 
ov  ndpos  r)fiiT€\€aTov  tn  uvcun^to  r^Motknit 
d<f>X€y€€S  €rmv$rjp€9  ^x^nXuMiurro  KtpamoQg  100 

o^os  dfiaXXoTOKw  ^ruiTfTtp*.  fioOv^f  ipt^n 
dtrriruTTov  GTaxy€aaiv  €x<jov  €vfioTpw  Smtufn/v, 
dXXd  x^Ao^  hpofjiioio  i^vXdaoto'  bvoatfioK  h^ 
aoi,  TCK09,  rjv  €6€Xrjg,  MuccAdv  ruo  f»S$tm  M^, 
TvpiTTjvcjv  7roT€  TTalSt^  €vavTCXXo¥ro  ffn^ypMH  lOf 


•  U,thc  mipas  he  carries  b  hb  bow  (made  partly  «f  Imib) 
8S6 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  78-105 

■'^  "  I  understand  what  is  in  your  mind.  You  have 
a  grudge  against  Pentheus,  and  you  make  a  man  into 
a  bastard  god  by  lying  oracles — that  Lydian  impostor 
has  bribed  you  by  promising  plenty  of  gold  from  the 
famous  golden  river.  But  you  will  say,  Bacchos  has 
invented  the  wine-fruit. — Yes,  and  what  wine  always 
does  is  to  drag  drunken  men  into  lust ;  what  wine 
does  is  to  excite  an  unstable  man's  mind  to  murder. 
But  he  wears  the  shape  and  garments  of  Zeus  his 
father! — Golden  robes  are  what  Lord  Zeus  wears,  not 
fawnskins,  when  he  thunders  in  the  heights  among 
the  Blessed ;  when  Ares  fights  with  men,  he  carries 
a  spear  of  bronze,  not  a  thyrsus  of  vineleaves  in  his 
hand ;  Apollo  is  not  horned  with  bull's  horns."  Was 
it  a  River  that  wedded  Semele  ?  did  the  bride  bear 
a  horned  bastard  to  her  bullhorned  husband  ?  But 
you  will  say,  Brighteyes  Pallas  Athena  marches  to 
battle  with  men,  holding  the  spear  and  shield  that 
were  born  with  her.  .  .  .  Then  you  should  hold  the 
aegis  of  your  father  Cronides." 

^5  When  Pentheus  ended,  the  wise  seer  replied  : 

®^  "  Why  do  you  persecute  Dionysos,  begotten  by 
Zeus  the  Lord  on  high,  whom  Cronides  brought  forth 
from  a  pregnant  thigh,  whom  Rheia  mother  of  the 
gods  nursed  with  her  cherishing  milk,  who  half- 
complete,  with  a  whiff  of  his  mother  still  about  him, 
was  bathed  by  lightnings  which  burnt  him  not  ? 
This  is  the  only  rival  to  Demeter  mother  of  harvest, 
with  his  fruit  of  grapes  against  the  corn  !  Nay,  be- 
ware of  the  wrath  of  Bromios.  About  impiety,  I  will 
tell  you,  if  you  wish,  my  son,  a  SiciUan  story. 

1^  "  Sons  of  the  Tyrsenians  once  were  saiUng  on 

or  possibly  his  hair  (one  way  of  dressing  the  hair  was  called 
"  the  horn  "). 

327 


NONNOS 

i€ivo<l>6voi,  nXtxnrjfHf  aXi^fu>v€t,  ipmoytt  ^^ficm, 
travToBev  apna^om'ts  iiratcrui  woMa  it.'/jjKmr 
KoX  noXu^  €vOa  Kai  €v6a  hopurrffTWif  im^  vifdr 
€iV  fiopov  vharotvra  ytputv  ^miA/rScTO  Mltfn}f 
rjfu6airrJ9,  trtpo^  hi  vpoaawiium  lo  woi§unif  IM 

dfulHXaifnji  noXifjat  ^^i^  ^oiwfvofro  watfuf/if. 
€finopo^  ci  r6T€  n6yrov  4n4wXi€V,  tt  vorf  ^oimf 

€lx€v,  vnip  noyroio  Xafiw¥  Tujpgin^f  4ib(n|f 
QTrpotSi^f  ttttffopfjTo  pvfj^tvdmif  M  rifdr*  us 

«cai  Tif  dii^p  vi^7roa>o¥  Awtifiova  ^6ffT9lf  iXhvwi 
€is  T,iK(\rjv  *\p€$ovaov  <i<^  fro^fuurro  ^o£m{ 

dXXa  SoXtAt  AionNTOf  tirucAoirar  (Oof  i§tt{^nt 
Tvparjvovs  dndilrr)ot'  v6$fpf  5*  &mMaairo  /lOjp^ljl,  190 
lfL€p6€i^  art  Kovpoq  cx«^  dxdptucTC¥  ihnfn|r, 
ai);(€Vi  Koafiov  txtov  xpMn^ror*  <i^i^  S^  K6ptnff 
ar€fifiaro^  darpaTrrotrrof  trjv  cuMoovrof  otyAif 
Au^vtBos*  dap€crroio,  «rai  cyy^OA  M^fa  |ia^ySo», 
icai  Aido;  'li'&o^  ;(apotr^  dfutpvyfia  BaXdotnff       lt5 
#cat  xpo^  5t>aaro  ntnXa  ^adtrrtpa  tfmMhot  *Ho^ 

urraro  5*  aiyioAoto  Yrap*  o^pvaw,  cXa  ttaX  air^ 
oA/caSo?  ifi€ip<ov  cVt^T^/ict'Oi.    oi  ft^  ^QpArrtt 
<f>athp6v  iXr^iaaavTo  hoXonXoKov  via  Owi»i/i  130 

irat  fcreai'coi^  yv/xi'coaav-   t^orpox^ONm  ft^  ovi/n^ 

ifcu  vcoy  cfaTro^ff  ftcyaj  cttActo  $4<nnU  fwp^ 

vuaacuy  -qeplojv  v€<f>€<*)v  a«cc7ras"  ci^«rcAd(^  8^  U5 

SS8 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  106-135 

the  sea — wandering  mariners,  murderers  of  the 
stranger,  pirates  of  the  rich,  stealing  from  every  side 
the  flocks  of  sheep  near  the  coast.  Many  an  old  sailor 
man  from  the  ships  which  they  captured  here  and  there 
was  rolled  half  dead  to  his  fate  in  the  waters  ;  many 
a  stout  shepherd  fighting  for  his  herd  dyed  his  grey 
hairs  in  his  red  blood.  If  any  merchant  then  sailed 
the  seas,  if  any  Phoinician  with  sea-purple  stuffs  from 
Sidonian  parts  for  sale,  the  Tyrsenian  pirate  caught 
him  suddenly  out  at  sea,  and  set  upon  his  vessels  laden 
with  riches  ;  and  so  many  a  man  lost  infinite  cargo 
without  a  penny  paid,  and  the  Phoinician  was  carried 
to  SiciUan  Arethusa  in  chains,  far  from  home,  his 
fortune  stolen  and  gone.  But  Dionysos  disguised 
himself  in  a  deceptive  shape,  and  outwitted  the 
Tyrsenians. 

^20  **  He  put  on  a  false  appearance,  Uke  a  lovely  boy 
with  smooth  chin,  wearing  a  gold  necklace  upon  his 
neck ;  about  his  temples  was  a  chaplet  shining  with 
selfsped  gleams  of  a  light  unquenchable,  broad  green 
emeralds  and  the  Indian  stone,**  a  scintillation  of 
the  bright  sea.  His  body  was  clad  in  robes  streaked 
with  dye  from  the  Tyrian  shell  more  brilUant  than 
the  circling  Dawn,  when  she  has  just  been  marked 
with  lines. ^  He  stood  on  the  brow  of  the  shore, 
as  if  he  wished  to  embark  in  their  ship.  They  leapt 
ashore  and  captured  the  radiant  son  of  Thyone  in 
his  guile  ;  they  stript  him  of  his  possessions,  and  tied 
Dionysos 's  hands  fast  with  ropes  running  behind  his 
back.  Suddenly  the  lad  grew  tall  with  wonderful 
beauty,  as  a  man  with  horned  head  rising  up  to 
Olympos,  touching  the  canopy  of  aerial  clouds,  and 

"  Pearl. 
"  The  meaning  of  this  curious  phrase  is  doubtful. 

329 


N0NN08 

CO?  arparos  hrvtax^^oi  i*4»  /AV«n{<mTO  Aoa^a^. 

€fi7rvoa  fiop<f>w$^tn'€g  cV  dytcvXa  vwra  hpOKitmmr 

Kal  nporovoi  avpiiov  vmjv^fuof  hi  $t€fidaTVff 

oXKaidis  iXUtaaiv  MSpofUv  CiV  W/»ac-  Iotov'  140 

Kai  xXo€poU  irtraXoiai  KardoKtOf  ijipi  y^irufv 

laros  €Tjv  KxmdfHOQOs  vw^/narot'  iv  hi  fita6h§tig 

KUJGo^  d€pain6Trjrof  okimcv  aW4pi  Y^irwp, 

a€if3fTfv  avTotXucrov  iirinAtfaf  Kunapioo^' 

dfjuiffl  hi  TrqSaXloujiv  vntpKW^aaa  BaXiaa^  14i 

BaK;(ta9  diiiT€X6€vri  urcmoj  ^/icuNWro  itQMtt^* 

Trpvfivns  5    rfhvnoToto  papV¥0§Utn^  Aiompov 

oh^v  avapXviovaa  fUBtfi  patcxt^tro  ifyif. 

dfu^i  hi  G^Xftara  ndyra  hta  wptStf/f^  6mmnm 

$rjp€s  d€(i^6hfj<mv'  tfivtrqaarro  hi  ToBpiH,  IJD 

Kai  pXfxrvpov  f(€Xdbrjfxa  Xim¥  EpvjplosfO  Aa4|«f^. 

TvfKn)vol  &*  idxTfoav,  ifituq^tWHno  hi  ^rfiwrj 

et9  4>6Pov  ourrpnridttrrti.    dtft^i^TOto  hi  wrfrrov 

dvdea  #a;/taTO€VT€9  dTrtirruov  vharof  6Xttoi' 

Kal  poSov  €pXd<mja€,  koI  Cf^6^,  mt  M  infv^f,      IM 

d<t>por6Koi  K€V€wy€9  €^o*yUnHMrro  ^aXigmft, 

Kal  Kpivov  €v  poOiois  dfMpuaatro. 

h€pKo§td9um  hi 
^ItevhofUvovs  X€ifia»vaf  tpatc^vStfOKu^  imwwtd, 
Kal  a<fnv  opos  PaOvhth-hpov  (^cuvrro  mil  POfios  wXi^ 
Kol  x^P^^  dypovo^ujjv  kqX  ircuca  ^ifXofior^pofy,         160 
Kai  KTvnov  wlaavro  Xiyv^dyyow  ¥0^irJios 
7roip,€vir)  avpiyyi  /xcAi^o/iox>io  varfaai, 
Kal  Xiyvpwv  diovT€s  ivrpijrutv  fuXos  aiUMT 
p.€aaariov  ttXcjovtcs  drtpfiovof  Hr6Bt,  w^rroo 
yaiav  iB€tv  iSoKrjaav  dfitpatvoot  5*  0w6  XAnrQ       liB 
€19  Pvdov  dioaovrts  €nwpxT^aayTo  yaAi{rg« 
830 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  136-166 

with  booming  throat  roared  as  loud  as  an  army  of  nine 
thousand  men."  The  long  hawsers  became  trailing 
snakes,  changed  into  live  serpents  twisting  their  bodies 
about,  the  stayropes  hissed,  up  into  the  air  a  horned 
viper  ran  along  the  mast  to  the  yard  in  trailing  coils : 
near  the  sky,  the  mast  was  a  tall  cypress  with  a  shade 
of  green  leaves  ;  ivy  sprang  up  from  the  mastbox  and 
ran  into  the  sky  wrapping  its  tendrils  about  the 
cypress  of  itself,  the  Bacchic  stem  popped  out  of 
the  sea  round  the  steering-oars  all  heavy  with 
bunches  of  grapes  ;  over  the  laden  poop  poured  a 
fountain  of  wine  bubbling  the  sweet  drink  of  Dionysos. 
All  along  the  decks  wild  beasts  were  springing  up 
over  the  prow :  bulls  were  bellowing,  a  lion's  throat 
let  out  a  fearsome  roar. 

152  "  The  Tyrsenians  shrieked  and  rushed  wildly 
about  goaded  with  fear.  Plants  were  sprouting  in  the 
sea  :  the  rolling  waves  of  the  waters  put  out  flowers  ; 
the  rose  grew  there,  and  reddened  the  rounded  foam- 
ing swell  upon  it  as  if  it  were  a  garden,  lilies  gleamed 
in  the  surge.  As  they  beheld  these  counterfeit 
meadows  their  eyes  were  bewitched.  The  place 
seemed  to  be  a  hill  thick  with  trees,  and  a  woodland 
pasturage,  companies  of  countrymen  and  shepherds 
with  their  sheep  ;  they  thought  they  saw  a  tuneful 
herdsman  playing  a  tune  on  his  shepherd's  pipes  ; 
they  thought  they  heard  the  melody  from  the  loud 
pipes'  holes,  and  saw  land  while  still  sailing  upon 
the  boundless  sea ;  then  deluded  by  their  madness 
they  leapt  into  the  deep  and  danced  in  the  quiet 
«  Compare  Horn.  II.  v.  859-861. 

331 


NONNOS 

rrovTonopoi  ScA^rcy  ainifiofi€vov  hi 

Koi  <TV,  TtKOi,  boX6€VTa  x^^  m^iSXafo  Auoibv. 
oAA*  €fU€is'  '  /ic^cVoi  hdfuif  dAmfioift  iiufUwm  hi  170 
fffpiKTov  66ovro<f>vTwv  avr6airopo¥  atfut  Tiydrrwif,' 
SaifjLovirjv  tffvyt  X*^  FiyoiTOi^OKW  Aioruoov, 
OS  TTorc  TvpoTjvolo  tmpa  Kpffimia  flcXajMV 
"AXnov  dTnjXoirfot ,  Brrffidyo^  MOr  ^Apaif^ift 
fjLapvdfL€vov  oKontXcHin  iroA  a4M«^{omi  icoAmmuc 


fiaivop,€vov  hi  Fcyovro^  viiaHi*jii«K«p  wtya 
ou  Tore  »ccat>  Kofnjvov  6hotw^fiof  Ivnx*  whwiit' 
c(  5c  Ti?  ayituoaaii'  afiartff  mt^^flfo  niAiwfly 
fjuiariCtvv  dpaaw  tinroi',  Mp  gitaW^oiO  wg^— c 
Ycpat  noXv<m€p4€aai  mpiwXotto^  vlof  *A^O«p|f        liO 

TToXXoKl   5*   €v6€v8pOiO  6l*   OVp€Ot  tU  MfiOr  IXWiW» 

ft^Aa  fX€ar)fifipil^ovra  yifHM»¥  hairptvrro  wo^ifr. 
oi)  Tore  8*  aiVoAibiai  7ra/nj^4>xx  ^  «o^  §tdiSaaMif 
GVfjufKpTois  hoitu(€aai  fi€At{rro  liCVOoiMof  fl^,    ifts 
ou  #fTV7ro>'  v<TT€p6<^i'Oi  oiuifirTo  «i|rrOof  'H^*^* 
oAAa,  AcUoi'  TT€p  €ovaay,  i^ri^umn  (pMpao¥  avX^ 
llavos  daiyijToio  Karta^pffiYtoaoro  myj, 
OTTi  Fiyay  r6T€  ndaw  tnivpatv'  o^  rim  Bovrfff, 
ov  x<>P^s  vXoToficjv  rt;  o/iijAuraf  ^'^X*  Ni^^i^ac      190 
rdfivwv  ynia  hovpa,  Kai  ov  ao^os  oXxiha  rwntm 
Sovponayts  yop^JKootv  oSoitropov  OMia  BiaXSaailt, 
€ig6k€  K€Lya  Kaprji'a  Trapeorivc  Bdir^of  ^^crfciir, 
G€iajv  Euta  Bvpaa-  nap€pxpfJi4Vift  hi  AvaXy 

WpW€<fniS   n€pLfl€TpOS    €7T€XP<l€V   ViOf   ^ApQ^pffft,  IftT. 

d<77ri5a  TrerpTJcaoov  cot?  co/xoiatv  ocijpctfr* 

*  No  one  else  nientiorv>  Alpo»,  vho«c  iiaiiie« 
that  he  is  placed  in  Sicily,  would  Mctn  to  be 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  167-196 

water,  now  dolphins  of  the  sea — for  the  shape  of  the 
men  was  changed  into  the  shape  of  fish. 

^^^  "  So  you  also,  my  son,  should  beware  of  the  re- 
sourceful anger  of  Lyaios.  But  you  will  say — I  have 
mighty  strength,  I  have  in  my  nature  the  blood  of 
the  terrible  giants  that  sprang  of  themselves  from  the 
sown  Teeth.  Then  avoid  the  divine  hand  of  Dionysos 
Giantslayer,  who  once  beside  the  base  of  Tyrsenian 
Peloros  smashed  Alpos,"  the  son  of  Earth  who  fought 
against  gods,  battering  with  rocks  and  throwing  hills. 
No  wayfarer  then  climbed  the  height  of  that  rock, 
for  fear  of  the  raging  Giant  and  his  row  of  mouths  ; 
and  if  one  in  ignorance  travelled  on  that  forbidden 
road  whipping  a  bold  horse,  the  son  of  Earth  spied 
him,  pulled  him  over  the  rock  with  a  tangle  of  many 
hands,  entombed  man  and  colt  in  his  gullet !  Often 
some  old  shepherd  leading  his  sheep  to  pasture  along 
the  wooded  hillside  at  midday  was  gobbled  up.  In 
those  days  melodious  Pan  never  sat  beside  herds  of 
goats  or  sheepcotes  playing  his  tune  on  the  assembled 
reeds,  no  imitating  Echo  returned  the  sounds  of  his 
pipes  ;  but  prattler  as  she  was,  silence  sealed  those 
hps  which  were  wont  to  sound  with  the  pipe  of  Pan 
never  silent,  because  the  Giant  then  oppressed  all. 
No  cowherd  then  came,  no  band  of  woodmen  cutting 
timbers  for  a  ship  troubled  the  Nymphs  of  the 
trees,  their  agemates,  no  clever  shipwright  clamped 
together  a  barge,  the  woodriveted  car  that  travels 
the  roads  of  the  sea,  until  Bacchos  on  his  travels 
passed  by  that  peak,  shaking  his  Euian  thyrsus. 
As  Lyaios  passed,  the  huge  son  of  Earth  high  as 
the  clouds  attacked  him.     A  rock  was  the  shield 

the  Alps  in  some  way  ;   the  syllable  alp-  is  found  in  other 
place-names. 

333 


NONNOS 

iq  itLtw  ri  irXaTavtarov  axoyriltim  AioiWM. 
d)S  ponaXov  nirvv  cf^^c,  teal  uk  M¥  itOp  Aioooir    100 
Trpviivodev  auToppi^ov  tKov^iOt  BdfUfcm  ikihff, 
oAA    arc  rr)XtpoXov9  op^wv  ixivuHn  KcXuvas, 
Kal  OKUprjs  Pa0vS€fbpo^  dyvfivwBfl  fi^W  2\w» 
Bvpaop.avTis  Torc  lidtcxoi  iov  fiOiof  m0i  pot^ 
tls  OKonov  TiKovrilit,  koX  rfXtfidrov  rv^mf  *AA«09     900 
ci9  TrAan/v  avB^ptwva,  hot*  do^ap6yofO  U  ^Jaoo» 
6^vT€vr)s  xAoaouoa  BUmnrro  Batnnitg  oijffiaf' 
€v6a  Viya^  oXiytp  rtrtMwiy^t  i(ii  Mywy 
rnuOavri^  K€KvXiaro  Ktu  tumtot  ytirovt  «i^rrq»« 
irXT)Gdfi€vos  Pa&vKoXm¥  oAor  ttwtwim  ftiA^goin     SIO 

depfxa  Kaatytn^roio  irar/icAMFt  vAra  j^aiitw^, 
€fi7rvpov  v6aT6€VTi  Karix»lf6Yoi¥  h4fiat  oXtcw. 
aXXd,  r€KO^,  7T€<ftvXa(ot  fiii  curcXa  teal  ai  vof^ajiit, 
Tvpaifjvcjv  dT€  7rai5<f, 

arc  Spaavf  viif  'AmI^."      216 
EfTTC  Kal  ov  'nap€7T€ia€v  drnpPn/jprm  M  ViOMy 
€19  opos  wpiKap-qi-ov  ofioaavTOf  ijU  Kd(8^» 
o<f>pa  xopov  ipava€u.    aihnoo^6poii  hk  fia)mraXs 
doTTtSa  Kov<f>i^cjv  KopvSaioXof  iaj(ff  ricv^cvc 

"  AfUO€S    €/XOt, 

crr€ixovT€S  €v  dartl  koX  yAoQ¥  u\i^      290 
ofaT€  \ioi  PapvS€Gfiov  di'oAici^a  Tovror  oAs/nyTf 
oif>pa  Tim€i9  HevSijo^  dfUHficuf)aw  IftdaBXai/s 
firjK€Ti  <f>appLaK6€vri  rrorat  ^cA^cu  yvMukoc, 
oAAd  ydm;  icAtVctev  ciTro  aKoirtXur¥  M  mil  a^ri^ 
firjT€pa  ^oKx^udtlaav  €fXTjv  ^iX6r€KVO¥  *Ayavi}r       225 
<f>oiTd8os  dypVTTVoio  /xcTaonJoaa^c  X0P**lf» 
SS4 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  197-226 

upon  his  shoulders,  a  hilltop  was  his  missile  ;  he 
leapt  on  Bacchos,  with  a  tall  tree  which  he  found 
near  for  a  pike,  some  pine  or  planetree  to  cast  at 
Dionysos.  A  pine  was  his  club,  and  he  pulled  up  an 
olive  spire  from  the  roots  to  whirl  for  a  quick  sword. 
But  when  he  had  stript  the  whole  mountain  for  his 
long  shots,  and  the  ridge  was  bare  of  all  the  thick 
shady  trees,  then  Bacchos  thyrsus-wild  sped  his  own 
shot  whizzing  as  usual  to  the  mark,  and  hit  this  tower- 
ing Alpos  full  in  the  wide  throat — right  through  the 
gullet  went  the  sharp  point  of  the  greeny  spear.  Then 
the  Giant  pierced  with  the  sharp  little  thyrsus  rolled 
over  half  dead  and  fell  in  the  neighbouring  sea, 
filling  the  whole  deephollo wed  -  abyss  of  the  bay. 
He  lifted  the  waters  and  deluged  Typhaon's  rock," 
flooding  the  hot  surface  of  his  brother's  bed  and 
cooling  his  scorched  body  with  a  torrent  of  water. 
Nay,  my  son,  be  careful,  that  you  too  may  not  see 
what  the  sons  of  Tyrsenia  saw,  what  the  bold  son  of 
Earth  saw." 

216  He  spoke,  but  could  not  convince  ;  and  so  with 
undaunted  shoe  he  hurried  to  the  high  mountains 
with  Cadmos,  that  he  might  share  the  dance.  But 
Pentheus  in  flashing  helm,  shield  on  arm,  cried  to 
his  armed  warriors — 

220  "  My  servants,  make  haste  through  the  city  and 
the  depth  of  the  woods — bring  me  here  in  heavy  chains 
that  weakling  vagabond,  that  flogged  by  the  repeated 
lashes  of  Pentheus  he  may  cease  to  bewitch  women 
with  his  drugged  potion,  and  bend  the  knee  instead. 
Bring  back  also  out  of  the  hills  my  fond  mother  Agaue 
now   gone    mad,  separate    her   from    the   sleepless 

«  The  island  under  which  he  lies  buried,  Inarime  in  Virgil, 
Aen.  ix.  716. 

235 


NOKNOS 

XvaaaXcrj^  €pvaavr€^  avd^inma  fi6rrpV9  iBtifnf^** 

"iJs"  (f>a^€vov  ricv^^  onaavti  audi  rofO^ 
cbpafiov  u^iKo/iOio  hvatyifiarov  ctV  i^X^  5^ 
Ix^ia  fiaar€vovT€^  opinXcu^ot  Aioivoov. 

dvpaofiavfj  Aiowaov  intppwaturro  iMa^qml* 
KoX  naXdfiai^  Upo^uHO  v4pi(  ia^yioif  S^tdimtg, 
heafia  ^aXtlv  tdtXoyrti  avun/ry  Stoviio^' 
oAA*  d  ti€v  ^y  d^orrcx,  ^^  vmp&tmt  wMk^ 

/x^pii'  dAtH7Kd{oKr<f  d^ipfroco  Aim40V 
ToppaXdoi.    Kal  UdscYot  ofiouof  doin&ctft^l 
dCvya  ravpov  €xof¥  &pd(aTo  X^tfil  tttfmhfi, 
d}^  dcpdnoiv  Mcv^^  dirtiAf toir  AiOPuby 
^cv5o/x€iXij  K</>d€vn,  icai  (tff  nor^ort 

AiMraoAcou  paaiXijo^  ayrjvopa  te6fim¥  i$6ptmp 
<f>piKaX€rjv  dycAaoTOf  i.T7lKAono¥  la^  ^wr^'  itf 

"  OvToy  d^Tj/),  atcTfTrroO^, 

rrtjy  oUrrpmatif  ^Ayowpr 
0^09  dvfjp  c^cAci  paaiXr)Sa  IIcvMOf  l^pi|r* 
dAAd  Xa^wv  K€p6€vra  SoXo^pava  B^frvor  lUi^nfr 
SiTaoi'  dAu#cToWS77<n  rcdii'  funfarijpa  Oomtnt^, 
Koi  K€<l>aXrjv  7r€<f>uXa(o  fiooKpaipav  J^Mivvamf,  280 

fiT^  ae  Aa)3d>v  ttAtJ^ck  ron/yAcuj^cM  Ktpal^** 

*Q.s  <t>afi€vov  hpofjuoio  KaTaax€TOf  €$M)^po¥t  XvoiFif 
fivdov  dnciXrfrijpa  d€r)pAyo^  lax^   litlStVi' 

"  ATJaarc,  S^arc  roOroy,  ip,w^  ovMgropa  OuMCUfy 
oiJtos'  ifioig  aK-rfTrrpoiat  KopvaaeroA,  oSrof  utcu^t      2W 
Ka3/X€ti}v  idiXijjy  ^c/icAij;  rrar/Moior  ^pnrp^. 
KoXov  €fJLol  Aiowaov,  oy  rjpoot  XdBptos  fvv^, 
SS6 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  227-257 

wandering  dance — drag  her  by  the  hair  now  snood- 
less  in  her  frenzy  !  " 

228  At  this  command,  Pentheus's  men  with  swift 
foot  ran  to  the  rugged  ridge  of  leafy  woodland  seeking 
the  tracks  of  hillranging  Dionysos.  With  difficulty 
the  soldiers  found  the  thyrsus-maddened  god  near  a 
lonely  rock ;  they  rushed  upon  him  and  wound  straps 
about  Bromios's  hands,  binding  him  fast — that  is  how 
they  meant  to  imprison  invincible  Dionysos  !  But 
he  disappeared — gone  in  a  flash,  untraceable,  on  his 
wdnged  shoes.  The  men  stood  silent — speechless, 
cowed  by  divine  compulsion,  shrinking  before  the 
wrath  of  Lyaios  unseen,  terrified.  And  Bacchos  in 
the  likeness  of  a  soldier  with  shield  in  hand,  seized 
a  wild  bull  by  the  horn,  making  as  if  he  were  one  of 
the  servants  of  Pentheus,  crying  out  upon  this  false 
horned  Dionysos.  He  put  on  a  look  of  rage  and 
came  near  to  mad  Pentheus  where  he  sat,  and 
mocked  at  the  proud  boasts  of  the  frenzied  king  as  he 
spoke  unsmiling  these  deceitful  threatening  words  : 

246  "  This  is  the  man,  your  Majesty,  who  has  sent 
your  Agaue  mad  !  This  is  the  man  who  covets  the 
royal  throne  of  Pentheus  !  Take  this  horned  vaga- 
bond Bacchos  full  of  tricks — bind  in  galUng  fetters 
the  pretender  to  your  throne — and  beware  of  the 
bull's  horns  of  Dionysos's  head,  or  he  may  catch  you 
and  pierce  you  with  the  long  point  of  his  horn  !  " 

252  When  Bromios  had  finished,  god-defiant  Pen- 
theus uttered  reckless  words,  his  mind  being 
possessed  by  the  deUrium  of  Bromios  : 

254  "  Bind  him,  bind  him,  the  robber  of  my  throne  ! 
This  is  the  enemy  of  my  sceptre,  this  is  he  that  comes 
coveting  the  royal  seat  of  Semele  and  her  father  ! 
A  fine  thing  for  me  to  share  my  honour  with  Dionysos, 

VOL.  in  z  337 


NONNOS 

dvbpo<f>vfj  Ttvo  ravpov  «X«»*'  (vtn^O¥a  ti^^, 
^ovKepdw  vodov  cfBo^  iiravydloimL  urrwwy^ 

poaKOfi€vw  K€p6€vrt  awavTOfiirn  irapoirorny." 

EfTre  #ca(  dy/xxuAoio  tro&i^  tqi^mmo  «W{Mr 
G<f>ly^€V  dXvKrontbj^t'  Xafiuj^  hi  UMW  danl  AvoUn 

tus-  i,€fi€X'qs  Bpaaw  via  Koi  oJ  ni«  Tal|por  tifytmt  MA 

€19  yXa^upov  riva  KoiXov  artpmdot  oUo¥  d»«yin|(, 
Ki fifjL€piwv  fiifirjfjui  hvoiKfiarct^,  d§»fWfmf  *HiiGt, 
dfju^noXov^  Bpo/Aiou  BuMoMtof,  Jm  iwi  5«o|i^      no 
OXiPofitvais  traXidfirjaut  i^rpwOrfOQP  t§admtt, 
X<iXK€ir)  bi  noStaoty  ima^pffyHrro  omffi^. 
*AAAd  raxvorpo^aXiyyof 

Srt  hp6itog  i)A^  X"^^' 
M<uvdB€9  tvpx^^oavro'  SinXX^oaa  M  Bdiqpi 
dorara  bivr)0€iaa  7roh<ov  prpupfiotf^  waX§k^  S7A 

dppay€cjv  dvtKoirrt  'nxxXCSXintw  iXtci^  Umu^, 
KoX  naXdpxu^  KpordXi^tv  ^An^por  EAor  ^jjX^ 
€vpv6fiois  TraTayoiaiv  xmo  aTp(MXtvy%  M  TOMtfT 
XaXKoPapTis  a4>piy6<oaa  irohdfv  icnfltro  anf^. 
teal  bofiov  dxXv6€VTa  dtoaavrof  £rrw^  A^^.      *•© 
BaaaaptBcoi/  ^o<f>€poio  tcaraord^ovoa  wMBfmf 
Koi  oKoriov  TrvAcaivcy  dy€vrvaoovTO  ptp^fiotf 
avr6p.aroi'  rpofX€pw  &€  rtBrftrdrrt^  dAftart  rofoGm 
BaaaapiScov  Ppvxqpxi  kqX  dypiov  di^fUm  Mmnm 
€lj  <f>6^v  rj-nclyovTo  <l>vXdtrrop€^ .    ai  hi  ^vyoBooAtU 
vooTLfiov  ix^os  €KafjulKiv  tpnrjfjidhof  th  ^XW  ^^» 
€jv  rj  p,€v  po€7)v  dytXrjv  baiTp€Voaro  $ipm^* 
pivoTopip,  Koi  X€i/xiff  cds  ifurfvaro  Xi^iptf 
838 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  258-288 

the  son  of  an  illicit  bed,  a  bull  in  human  form,  with 
a  shape  of  borrowed  glory  upon  his  oxhorned  face, 
whom  Semele  perhaps  mothered  for  a  bull,  Uke 
another  Pasiphae,  mated  with  a  grazing  horned 
bedfellow  !  " 

2«2  He  spoke,  and  bound  fast  the  legs  of  the  ^vild 
bull  in  galling  shackles.  Taking  him  for  Lyaios  he  led 
him  shackled  near  the  horses'  manger,  thinking  his 
captive  Semele 's  bold  son  and  no  bull.  He  tied 
together  with  ropes  the  hands  of  all  the  ranks  of 
Bassarids,  sealed  them  up  in  a  mouldy  dungeon,  a 
vaulted  cavern,  a  house  of  joyless  constraint,  whence 
none  could  escape,  dark  as  the  Cimmerians,  far  from 
the  light  of  day,  these  followers  of  Bromios  in  the 
revels  ;  their  arms  were  bound  in  a  clasp  of  galling 
straps,  chains  of  bronze  were  sealed  on  their  legs. 

273  But  when  the  time  came  for  the  quickturning 
dance,  then  danced  the  Mainads.  The  Bacchants  like 
a  storm  shook  loose  the  wrappings  of  their  straps  im- 
broken  and  circled  quickly  in  tripping  step,  ratthng  a 
free  Euian  noise  with  rhythmic  claps,  while  the  turn- 
ing of  their  feet  broke  the  thick  heavy  fetters  of 
bronze  round  their  legs.  A  heavensent  radiance 
filled  the  dark  dungeon  of  the  Bassarids,  diffused 
over  the  gloomy  roof;  the  doors  of  the  darksome 
den  opened  of  themselves ;  the  jailers  were  stupe- 
fied at  the  cries  and  the  ferocious  foaming  teeth  of 
the  Bassarids,  and  their  leaping  feet,  and  fled  in 
terror. 

285  So  they  escaped  and  turned  their  way  back  to 
the  forest  in  the  lonely  hills.  One  slew  a  herd  of  bulls 
%vith  skinpiercing  thyrsus,  and  soiled  her  hands  in  the 

^  dvpao)  Cunaeus,  Warmington  independently,  for  ravpcov 
written  perhaps  echoing  jSoc't^v  dyeAiyv,  cf.  ravpeirjv  in  1.  289. 

339 


NONNOS 

ravp€irjy  ovvx^aai  Siaaxiiovaa  tcaXvwrpffm 

elponoKwv  apprjKra  SuVuayf  vctfca  fMrni^, 

dkXr)  5*  alyag  €7T€<^v€v  i^oudaaorro  M  M$pmf 

ai/xciAcai;  XiPd^aai  Bai^ofUtnit  iw6  woifUffff. 

dXXrj  5c  TpUrrjpov  w^ap^^aoa  rotcifit 

drpofiov  aarv^Xucrov  a&€a§uo¥  &^<Wt»  cuyuur  ttft 

lararo  Kov^Hovaa  fUfir^XoTa  woSoa  MMoif^ 

cfo/Ltcvof  ycAooipra  fceu  o^  rnVromi  woi^* 

/cat  yAayo^  ^/rcc  Kovpos,  tfiv  art  fif/r^pa,  B^«Qfi|r» 

arrj6€a  5*  dfi^a^daatcw  ^yiiy«^ciProu>  M  iroiyi|9 

avTOftdrrjv  yXayotaaav  aW/^Avor  a(|«^5a  fkoJffil'       100 

9rou3i  5c  n€waXdif»  Xaaioug  irrrcfioooa  jiififliWg 

;^€iA€ai  v7/Yr(a)^oi<n  V€6ppnrtJ¥  wpty€  AfMfi^, 

TTapd^vno)  5*  iK6p€aa€v  ai^Stl  KoOpcm  M^9fi* 

TToAAai  5*  o^trc^icoco  /KTOvAioM^ni  Tm<wlyi|t 

Tf #fva  SacrtxrrcoMMo  rt^vifooyro  Xtabnif,  006 

oAAi;  hu//iov  oiSa^  i-niKTvntv  6(di  0vpo^ 

dxpov  opog  irXi^ada  i^oo^^tft/f  *  o^TOTtAi)  M 

orwi/  €p€vyop.€VT)  KpavKiTj  nop^vprTO  ttirpffi, 

X€ipop.€vov  5c  yaAa#rr<K  apaaao§idr9fs  d«6  wirpfrjit 

7rihaK€s  avro^vToiaiv  tX^VKoi^orro  ftdBaot/g.  310 

oAAi;  pt^c  5p€iKo^a  «card  hpvis*  <if^  M  5A»8|py 

(nr^Zpav  6<tng  KVKXioat,  teal  rtrXtro  maoif  cU^nff 

7Tp€fivov  €Xi<raofi€v<f}  oKoXuft  furpovfitVQt  6Xk^, 

a/i^AcAt^o/xcKuv  ^i/xou/ic>t>9  dfifLa  SpcuDdnwr. 

Kai  LctTvpoj  TT€<f>6priro  atarjpora  Bfjpa  KOfUf/tm       314 

Tiypiv  dnciXrjrijpa  KaSrjfifvw  viff6$i,  MitOV» 

dypiov  -^jSos  €xovra  kqx  ov  ^aiWra  ^opiSjof 

Kal  avos  diKpa  ycvcta  ycpoiv  £ciAip^  ia&ooat 

Kapxapov  ijKovriJcv  cV  i7Cpa  Kairpov  dBvpoi¥' 

dXXos  acAAT^ci^i  7ro5cu»'  CTri^^ropi  troA^i^  ttO 

S40 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  289-320 

gore,  tearing  the  rough  bull's  hide  with  her  finger- 
nails. Another  cut  to  pieces  a  flock  of  sheep  with 
bloody  twigs,  not  tearing  their  soft  wool  ;  another 
killed  goats,  and  all  were  dyed  with  bloody  streams  of 
gore  from  the  slaughtered  herd.  Another  snatched 
from  the  father  a  threeyear  child,  and  set  it  upon  her 
shoulder  untrembling,  unshaken,  unbound,  balancing 
the  boy  in  the  winds'  charge — there  he  sat  laughing, 
never  falling  in  the  dust.  The  boy  asked  the 
Bacchant  for  milk,  thinking  it  was  his  mother,  and 
pawed  her  breast — and  milky  drops  ran  of  them- 
selves to  the  breasts  of  the  unwedded  maiden,  she 
opened  her  hairy  wrap  for  the  hungry  boy,  and  offered 
a  newly  flowing  teat  to  his  childish  lips  ;  so  a  virgin 
stilled  the  boy  with  an  unfamiUar  drink.  Many 
forced  away  newborn  cubs  from  a  shaggychested 
honess  and  nursed  them.  Another  struck  the  thirsty 
soil  with  the  point  of  a  thyrsus  ;  the  top  of  the  hill 
spUt  at  once,  and  the  hard  rock  poured  out  purple 
wine  of  itself,  or  with  a  tap  on  the  rock  fountains  of 
milk  ran  out  of  themselves  in  white  streams.  An- 
other threw  a  snake  at  an  oak  ;  the  snake  coiled 
round  the  tree,  and  turned  into  moving  ivy  running 
round  girdling  the  trunk,  just  as  snakes  run  their 
coils  round  and  round.  A  Satyr  rushed  along  carry- 
ing a  snarling  beast,  a  dangerous  tiger  which  sat  on 
his  back,  which  for  all  its  wild  nature  did  not  touch 
the  bearer.  One  old  Seilenos  dragged  a  boar  by  the 
snout  and  threw  the  tusked  swine  up  in  the  air  for  fun. 
Another  with  stormy  leaps  of  his  feet  in  a  moment 

341 


KONNOS 

€19  Xo<l>i'qv  dtcixrjTO^  €'nr)a»prjro  KOfti^Xov 

Kal  Ti9  vnip  vanoio  Bopwv  ^jvovijouro  TOi^p^ 

Kcu  ra  fi€v  €v  aKondXcnai'  Av)poo|tifr^  V  M  Oi{A| 
davfiara  noiKlXa  Bojcxo;  cScunivc  wAn  PbJUwh 
Kai  oifxxXipolai  -no^aaiv  ifitucxtvovro  )<Wi«fal|  ...  115 
;^etA€a4v  axftpoKOiioiaw  okq  h*  iXiXiirro  S^h$ 
Kal  <l>Xoy€pov^  OTTivOrfpai  afnjtcoyTi^ov  iywal' 
acUro  TTovra  d4fi€BXa,  teal  dtf  fio4uf¥  air6  AoA^uZfr 
dKXiv€€g  TTvAccuKc;  €fi.v>rq(fayTO  luXiBfiom* 
kqX  bofioi  doTv^XiKTOi  dpafipo§U^09Ct  <cu8ot|iy      S90 
AalVcT^  atiATTiyyi  yccui^  oimJaavro*'  i^X^* 

Oi)d€  ;(oAot;  AconHTOf  /irauoaro*  mufior^p  5^ 
^oyyrjv  rj€f>6^Tov  if  €wran6pam  trtrn  darpomg 
Ava<rq€is  arc  ravpo^,  €<jl»  /iiMn^oaro  XoifMi^* 
Kal  kXov^wv  WtvOrja  fi4firj¥6rra  fidfrvM  WVpoA        SS6 
fiapfiapi/yrjs  €'nXrja€V  oXov  ft^ior*  dft^l  M  TOiXOVf 
dvTiTTopov^  acAayt{c  noXmrx^^  6Xa6§U99¥  w6p 
5aio/x€vo>  OTTivBrjpi  KardaavTOV,  Jifit^  Si  ir^Aocc 
iTop<f>vp€ois  KoX  aripvov  dXixXauftnt  PaoiXijot 
Twpaos  cAtf  TT€if>6prjro,  koX  qvk  i^^t  ;(it<L»«^*       S40 
K€Kpip,€vaL£  3*  airriatv  amxnro&f  aA^iart  Btpfujt 
€K  noBos  cU  pJaa  vurra,  hi    i^voi  tU  ^XU^  ^'V'F 
llevOios  dp/f>l  T€\'ovTa  /i<n)AuSc(  irptxp"^  adytw 
noXXoKi  5*  auTonopoio  nvpos  Prrnpua^i  waXfU^ 
rr/ycvcos"  paaiXrjos  €varpun<jjv  €irl  Mtcrpam  *♦.*» 

d^Acycaj  aTrivOijpas  dndnrvt  BtOKtXoi  olyAi}. 
Kal  ffcAa?  avTodXiKTov  ihd>v  fipuxi^aaro  Flo^vr, 
K€kX€to  h€  bpxo€Gaiv  dy€iv  oA/mJ^ior  v8ciiy>« 
6<t>pa  KaTaap€Ga(xMJiv  di'aTrrofUvrjv  ^X6ya  wupooO 
hwfia  7T€pLppaivovT€^  oAcfucoxoiai  ptdOpoiif'  900 

icat  'yXa<f>vpiov  yvaXcav  ciftdyri  yv/xiaou/iCiMor  tfScri^, 
icou,  fieydXr)  ircp  iovaa,  poov  rtpoalv^ro  inyyij 
342 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  321-352 

mounted  upon  a  camel's  neck  ;  and  one  jumped  on  a 
bull  and  rode  on  his  back. 

22^  So  much  for  the  mountains  ;  but  in  music- 
builded  ^  Thebes,  Bacchos  manifested  many  wonders 
to  all  the  people.  The  women  danced  wildly  with 
staggering  feet  .  .  .  with  foaming  hps.  All  Thebes 
was  shaken,  and  sparks  of  fire  shot  up  from  the 
streets ;  all  the  foundations  quaked,  the  immovable 
gates  of  the  mansions  bellowed  as  if  they  had  throats 
Uke  a  bull ;  even  the  unshaken  building  rumbled  in 
confusion,  as  if  giving  voice  with  a  stone  trumpet  of 
its  own. 

332  Yet  Dionysos  did  not  abate  his  wrath.  He  sent 
his  divine  voice  into  the  sky  as  far  as  the  seven  orbits 
of  the  stars,  bellowing  with  his  own  throat  like  a 
mad  bull.  He  pursued  frenzied  Pentheus  with  his 
witnesses,  the  fires,  and  filled  the  whole  house  with 
the  blaze.  Tongues  of  fire  danced  gleaming  over  the 
walls  right  and  left  with  showers  of  burning  sparks  ; 
over  the  king's  brilliant  robes  and  the  seapurple  stuff 
about  his  chest  ran  spirals  of  fire  which  did  not  burn 
his  garments.  Separate  streaks  of  fire  went  in  hot 
leaps  from  foot  to  middleback,  across  his  loins  to  the 
top  of  his  backbone  and  round  his  neck  ran  the  travel- 
ling flashes  :  often  the  divine  light  spat  sparks  that 
did  not  burn  on  the  splendid  bed  of  the  earthborn 
king,  the  fire  dancing  about  at  random.  Pentheus 
seeing  this  fire  moving  about  of  itself  roared  aloud  and 
called  his  slaves  to  help,  to  bring  saving  water  to 
drench  the  place  with  protective  torrents  and  quench 
the  burning  flames.  And  the  rounded  cisterns  were 
emiptied,  bared  of  water,  the  fountain  of  the  river 

«  Because  the  stones  of  its  walls  came  of  themselves  at  the 
sound  of  Amphion's  lyre. 

S43 


NONNOS 

ayy€ai  vrjpidfUHatv   a^fvofToyiivov  worauoiom 
/cat  TTOvos  axfrnifrro^  trjv  ^rol  irwow¥  Aci|^» 
Kal  Sie/xxtf  XipdS€aaiv  a/(cro  fiaXXifumif  wBp 
depfjLorepai^  dtcriaf  Kal  w^  mXtum  iof^  n 
fiVKTjdfiov  K€Xd^yTo^  vncjoo^fi  w4Xtt¥  ifarM* 
Ppovrais  S*  tvSofivxoujiy  iwdicnmt  Tltwfiot  aiki^. 


S44 


DIONYSIACA,  XLV.  353-358 

great  as  it  was,  dried  up  when  those  thousands  of 
vessels  were  dipt  in  the  water.  Their  trouble  was 
useless,  the  water  did  no  good, wet  floods  poured  on 
the  fire  only  made  its  flames  grow  hotter  still ;  there 
was  a  sound  as  of  the  echoing  bellow  of  many  bulls 
under  that  roof,  and  the  palace  of  Pentheus  re- 
sounded with  internal  thunders. 


345 


AIOIVTSIAKON  TEISAPAKOrrON 
EKTON 


WivOios  Qjcpa  Koprjva  ncal  dtXial'mrrtm  *Ayatfi^. 


'AAA'  arc  &17  yiVc4X7#fCv  ovoj  BfMOVf,  Sm 
atVrofxarou  8<afioio  ai&qpo^opofv  av^  x^tp&¥ 
Maim5€9  caacuot^o  /Mn)Av5<f  cif  ^X*'  ^^^t^f 
fcai  8oAo^  oAAoTrpoooAAoi'  aBffi^TOV  AuM>|{0DV« 
aararos  vppiorijpi  x^^  KV^uuPtro  flfv^f^  § 

Kai  ^ii'  Ibwv  TTaptoyra  TToXa^pOfi/im  l)M8l  ITMMH^ 
p6arpvx<i  fiiTpojO€iTa,  xai  dnXotdtv  ^i^iB^w  wfUMH^ 

roZov  dTrcppoipS-qatv  ctto^  Auaacufttf  Aoifi^* 

ou  hvvarai  aeo  /xovris*  c^i'  1^1^  i^irffpoirruccy* 
oAAoi;  €W€7T€  rairra.     0«i  rroBtv  vUi  'Ptiiy 
oi)  Alt  ^afov  op€(€,  Kai  €rp€i^  via  StNuio^; 
cip^o  AiKTairj^  KopvBaioXov  avrpov  iplmnrif,  U 

€tp€o  /cat  Kopuj3ai^a9,  otttj  Ttork  KoOpof  iBvpum      \€ 

Zcu?  fields  TjfS'qac,  Kal  ov  yAayo?  €amat  'Pftiyy.  15 
jjdea  arj^  boXirj^  dncfid^ao  Koi  av  TtKOvarff'  If 

ajco,  /ii7  Kpovi^9  ficrd  tirfT€pa  koa  ai  oofiAaafi,  10 
S46 


BOOK  XLVI 

See  also  the   forty-sixth,  where   you  will  find  the 
head  of  Pentheus  and  Agaue  mur- 
dering her  son. 

As  soon  as  Pentheus,  that  audacious  king,  understood 
that  the  fetters  of  iron  had  dropt  of  themselves  from 
the  prisoners'  hands,  and  the  Mainads  were  rushing 
abroad  to  the  mountain  forest,  as  soon  as  he  knew 
the  crafty  plan  of  unseen  Dionysos,  restless  at  once 
he  swelled  with  violent  wrath.  Then  he  saw  him 
returned  there,  with  wreaths  of  the  usual  ivy  about 
his  head,  and  the  long  locks  of  hair  flowing  in 
unkempt  trails  over  his  shoulders,  and  blustered  out 
these  wild  words  from  his  frenzied  throat — 

1^  **  I  like  you  for  sending  that  swindler  Teiresias 
to  me  !  Your  seer  cannot  deceive  my  mind.  Tell 
all  that  to  someone  else.  How  could  goddess  Rheia 
refuse  her  breast  to  Zeus  her  own  son,  and  yet  nurse 
the  son  of  Thyone  }  Ask  the  cave  in  the  rock  of 
Dicte  with  its  flashing  helmets,  ask  the  Cory  bants  too, 
where  Uttle  Zeus  used  to  play,  when  he  sucked  the 
nourishing  pap  of  goat  Amaltheia  and  grew  strong  in 
spirit,  but  never  drank  Rheia 's  milk.  You  also  have 
a  touch  of  your  deceitful  mother.  Semele  was  a  liar, 
and  Cronides  burnt  her  with  his  thunders  :  take  care 
that  Cronides  does  not  crush  you  like  your  mother.     I 

S47 


NONNOS 

PdpPapov  ov  ftfdtno}  Koi  iyttt  yiyof  iifxfyetfOt  W 
*\afiriv6s  ft<  ^vT€vat,  koI  ov  r^ictv  ^YpiiEodawrif' 
^rjpioBrfv  ovK  otSa  koI  ov  \wc6ofyas  dUeo^. 
oAAa  aifv  vfi€rff>oii  Iotv/khc  tcai  $mdat  EdtrxoMg 

KT€LV€  nap*  ^Aaavpioun  vtontptm  SXXetf   Qpamfr* 
ov  av  y€vos  Kpoyuuvat  'OXvfiwwtr  dlUiyUvi|f  y^ 
dareponai  poowotv  Svt&ta  <nlo  rtmMtoiff^ 
Kol  Kpv4>iu>v  X€x^o>v  hn^iAprvpdt  ^lot  tnpm^foL 
ov  Aavdrjv  furd  Xitcrpa  Kard^^tytw  ihiof  Zc^*    \ 
Kai  yvwrfjv  abotnjrov  ifiov  Kd&fioio  KO§tIf/tmf 
Evpamrjv  ^ifwXaft,  teal  owe  itcfw^  BaXdao^. 
olha  fi^v,  dti  aXox^vrw  In  fip^^MH  al$€pbl  P^ 
(uAcacv  alOopAvTi^  /icrd  fiffnipotf  i||^TC^  M 
Xva€  v6$r)v  wbli-a  fiapaMMfO§i4mm  fWWfvfe* 
€i  h4  fuv  OVK  ibdfiaotnv,  &n  y^htfUm  ^atmmibmf 
KptmraSlrj^  ^cAon/ro^  dyalrt^  4ofn  Twifoifcn^, 
7r€ldofiai,  ws  €V€rr€i^,  dtKui¥  h4  0€  iroSSa  ttaXioow 
ZsTjvo^  iTrovpavioio,  Kal  od  ^Xi)fi/rra  ffg|icuM^. 
Koi  av  /x€  Tovro  h^afov  dXrf$A  fiAprvpi  fivdift' 
7s€V9  ycvcTT^s  n6r€  ^oifiov  ^  *A/><a  ytlmm  ^^pfpi 
€1  Aiof  cAAa^c;  a^fui,  fjLtrtpxto  irvicAor  *OXS§iMQV 
aWcpa  vcucrdcjv,  Xint  flct^tV  mtrptia  MJI^P* 
co^Ac;  dpp.€vov  dXXov  ofM/i^a  fMo¥  hfifut 
^cuSci  K€pSaXew  K€pdaa^  $€X(i^pom,  flci^. 

OTTt   G€   TTaihoTOKO)    KpOVlBrj^   t4k€V  iJ^O^   tCOpOJJ' 

ov  rdxa  rooaov  d-marov  hjv  rtroy,  om  ireu  aiW^ 
Bo/rxoi'  di'vp/f>€VT<i}  fi€rd  FIoAAo^a  risen  Kafifffji^, 
rj$€Xov,  ei  yti'os  co^c;  *0Aufi9itov,  aI0c  Kp€t4tmf 
Vi/iLp.€bwv  ac  <f>VT€XHJiv,  oTTors  Aios  ai^  So^iccjr 
S48 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  21-50 

too  have  no  share  of  barbaric  race  in  me.  I  am  sprung 
from  primeval  Ismenos,  not  from  watery  Hydaspes;  I 
know  nothing  of  Deriades,  my  name  is  not  Lycurgos. 
Now  leave  the  streams  of  Dirce  and  take  your  Satyrs 
and  mad  Bacchants  with  you  ;  use  your  thyrsus,  if 
you  like,  to  kill  another  and  a  younger  Orontes 
among  the  Assyrians.  You  are  no  Olympian  off- 
spring of  Cronion :  for  the  lightnings  cry  aloud  the 
shame  of  your  perishing  mother,  the  thunders  are 
witnesses  of  her  ilhcit  bed.  Zeus  of  the  Rains  burnt 
not  Danae  after  the  bed  ;  he  carried  Europa,  the 
sister  of  my  Cadmos,  and  kept  her  unshaken — he  did 
not  drown  her  in  the  sea.  I  know  that  fire  from 
heaven  consumed  the  babe  unborn  along  with  the 
burning  mother,  and  released  the  bastard  fruit  of 
this  scorching  delivery  half-formed  :  if  it  did  not 
destroy  the  babe,  because  you  are  innocent  of  your 
mother's  furtive  love  of  an  earthly  bedfellow,  I 
believe  it  as  you  declare,  and  unwillingly  I  will  call 
you  son  of  heavenly  Zeus  and  one  not  burnt  up  by 
the  thunder.  Now  tell  me  in  your  turn,  and  bear 
true  witness :  when  did  their  father  Zeus  ever  produce 
Ares  or  Apollo  from  his  thigh  ?  If  you  have  in  you 
the  blood  of  Zeus,  migrate  to  the  vault  of  Olympos 
and  Uve  in  heaven,  leave  to  Pentheus  his  native 
Thebes.  You  should  find  another  tale  to  fit  the  case, 
something  plausible,  and  mix  with  your  cunning 
imposture  persuasion  to  enchant  the  mind — that 
Cronides  brought  you  forth  from  his  prolific  brow  as 
usual.  Perhaps  it  would  not  be  quite  so  incredible 
a  story  that  he  produced  Bacchos  too  like  Pallas  from 
that  unwedded  brow.  I  would  wish  if  you  had  been 
of  the  Olympian  breed,  yes  if  only  Cronion  Lord  on 
High  had  got  you,  that  I  might  hunt  the  offspring 

349 


NOKN08 

vucjaoi  ^lowaov,  *ExuH'Of  Mt 

Kpvvrwv  baifiovirf^  vnoKOpiutv  iytttm  ntiA^* 
"  BdpPapa  dtofia  ^povao» 

^X*  viwv  pp€^w¥  Kafiaffi/it  wham  hutdlftnf 
'Prjvo^  darjfuiyTOio  $€fuoTt>m6Xot  iwnfrofo 
aifiaro^  ayvutorow  v6^a¥  yhfOf  oltir  Wyfw. 

;(€t;/iaa(i'  oi)r(3<ut>un  hucd^opioi,  ^XXk 
YruTTorcpoc  inj/>t;irc;  «/iot  y«y«£cun  «rf/ 
Kp€iaaova  fiaprvpirjv  artpowifi  ^t^  it{iO«  flo^t^ 
u8art  ^ci*  PaAai^,  od  M  w«i9iO  fidfntp^  wyp^. 

hwfjia  ^iwvvaoio  ir(\ii  narpwUft  oXftfp* 

KGu  x^opo^  ci  Kpun^  ^>'  ^  daTtp6€rroi  XMyj^wuii^  it 

€t7r^  /ioc  €ipofi4v<p,  riva  ^prtpa¥  a^rdf  ifif^g, 

ovpavov  €Trrdiwvov  rj  tvrairvXov  X^^*^  ^4^^* 

ou  x^'''^^  IIcv^^  tmxBovuMO  i^MBprnf. 

fiovvov  tfirji  KvSaivt  fAtXtarayif  &Sot  ^«W|pi|f 

fii7  TTOToi'  d/iTTcAocvro;  ari^^o^T^  A40l>^bov.  10 

'Ii'So^i'^  hpofjuw  fxfi  fidpvQo,  Bffkmfyg  W, 

€4  Suwaai,  7roA€/i<i<  M*»  PV(v*^P^  ^^•QQI- 

orot  Ta^a  koAoi'  tOtvro  rrpofiayrut  o4if9§tia  Mo^mu 

vfi€T€pov  dcLvdroio  7rpodyYtXo¥-  iiil99tm0^  hi 

ov  v€fi€ais  U€v$rja  7rc5or/x^of  ytprrfjpot  75 

riTycvts"  afpi  ^poiTa  4^p€w  fufuysa  Tvy^mw^^ 

ov  v€fi€ais  Kcu  Bcuc^ov  *OXvfinuM^  atfia  ytMkifg 

Zr}v6s  ex€4v  fiifiTjfia  riya»ro^vo*o  roKijof. 

350 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  51-78 

of  Zeus  and  conquer  Dionysos,  I,  called  the  son  of 
Echion  !  " 

^2  At  these  words  the  god  was  indignant,  and  re- 
plied, concealing  the  weight  of  a  fatal  threat  deep 
in  his  heart  : 

^  "  I  admire  the  Celtic  land  with  its  barbarous  law, 
where  the  Rhine  tests  the  pure  birth  of  a  young  baby  : 
he  is  judge  of  a  doubtful  birth,  and  knows  how  to 
detect  the  bastard  offspring  of  unknown  blood.**  But 
my  appeal  is  not  to  the  insignificant  stream  of  that 
river  called  Rhine,  but  I  have  heralds  more  trust- 
worthy than  rivers,  in  the  thunderbolts.  Seek  no 
better  testimony  than  the  lightning,  Pentheus.  The 
Gaul  believes  the  water,  do  you  believe  the  testifying 
fire.  I  need  not  the  earthly  palace  of  Pentheus  ;  the 
home  of  Dionysos  is  his  father's  heaven.  If  there 
were  a  choice  between  earth  and  starry  Olympos, 
tell  me  I  ask,  which  could  you  call  better  yoiu-self, 
sevenzone  heaven  or  the  land  of  sevengate  Thebes  ? 
I  need  not  the  earthly  palace  of  Pentheus  ! 

^^  "  Only  respect  the  honey  dripping  bloom  of  my 
fruit,  do  not  despise  the  drink  of  Dionysos  and  his 
vine.  War  not  against  Bromios  the  slayer  of  Indians, 
but  only  one  woman,  fight  if  you  can  only  with  one 
manbreaking  Bacchant  !  Perhaps  the  prophetic 
Fates  named  you  well,^  to  foreshow  your  death.  No 
wonder  that  Pentheus  having  the  earthborn  breed 
of  his  ancestor  sprung  from  the  soil,  should  suffer  the 
direful  fate  of  the  Giants.  No  wonder  that  Bacchos 
too,  having  the  Olympian  breed  of  his  race,  should 
play  the  part  of  Zeus  his  giantslaying  father.     Ask 

*•  See  A.  H.  Krappe,  La  Genese  des  mythes  (Paris,  Payot, 
1938),  p.  201,  for  modern  discussions  of  this  custom. 
*  tievQivs — nivQos  (mourning). 

S51 


NONNOS 

rtV  ^^ndXj)  napiaiH,  rcV  "i^poa*  vfuha  Bwinyr. 

^pca  KaXX€u/tas  paaiXiM  r^rXoBt,  UtvM, 
drjXca  rrcTrAa  ff>€p€iy,  hoi  ya^o  ^^W  *Aya^* 
/iT^  5c  ae  Or)p€vo%na  napatfwat  yu¥oXtctf. 
rjv  8c  Tcw  naXdfij)  &TjpQfCT6t^  Tofa  Tovvc 
Ka5/io;  cnatKi/aci  ac  crvMiy/MtfOOorra  TO 

G^/>a  Acoio'o^ix)!'  a€  /icr*  *Ajrrm«Mi  MoAimiai. 
KixrBio  rci/xca  raOra*  ai&fipo^6pout  ^  /Aa^i^rdf 
X^poiv  oBoipriKroiaw  ifiai  irrfowoi  yvroorcf  *  fO 

ci  5c  ac  i'i#o/<7UKriv  drtvx^i  BrjXti  X^Pt^V 

avhpa  YvtaiKtij)  K€Ka^fi6ra  5i|iOT^Tt; 
Baaaapt9  oi)  rpofUti  nrtp6€W  0Aor»  O^  B^pv  ^<^^* 
oAAd  5dAa>  Kpvif>iw  nvtcaaat  aywttwrror  ^www  i^ip       96 
o^cat  o/>yia  irdyra  xop(mX€tr4of  Aiowfcww/' 

"Q;  ciVofv  nap€n€ia€v,  hnl  p6o¥  it^oig  Iftaaoum^ 
^itclAct;?  cSo^'T^ac  Kardax€TO¥  l\|iftn  AifoviK  .  •  • 
/cat  BpofjLiw  <Tvva€dXo^  ^W^pac  llci^t  Mipi^ 
Bcufiovijj  fidariyi'  ow€pxoa€trp  M  AvoXv  10 

Xvaai^€is  Bpaav^  olorpo^  oftcpauK^oio  HcXiiriK 
<f>aayLara  TTouaXo^JLop^  /iCfxi^Km  flci^t  dcijac 
<t>piKr6v  ^¥Lx^vlhriv  irportprff  furt$ff$C€  u4voi9ifS, 
Kai  (r(f>aX€pfj  UevBijo^  iirtafAafidyfifmv  ^kov§» 
8aifiovlr]s  adXiTiyyo^  aXdaropa  boihmf  iif6aaum*      10 
av€pa  h*  €TTroiTja€.     Kal  ciV  S6fUM^  i)9b6lc  Ilci'tff^ 
olarpofiavrjs,  no$€u>v  Biaa<At&€09  ofy%n,  BiLryov* 
ffxjjpiayLov^  8*  c5if  c  Bvii^ai,  i{x*  ywraoruir 

*  t.«.  he  became  litcrmlly  /imatk; 
852 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  79-108 

Teiresias  who  it  is  you  are  defying ;  ask  Pytho  who 
it  is  that  slept  with  Semele,  who  it  is  begat  Thyone's 
child. 

^1  "  And  if  you  are  willing  to  learn  the  mysteries 
of  dancedelighting  Bacchos,  put  off  your  royal  robes, 
Pentheus,  condescend  to  wear  the  garments  of  a 
woman  and  become  the  woman  Agaue,  and  let 
not  the  women  escape  you  when  you  hunt  them. 
Or  if  your  hand  draws  the  bow  to  slay  wild  beasts, 
Cadmos  will  praise  you  when  you  join  your  mother 
in  the  hunt.  Alone,  rival  Bacchos,  and  if  it  be  lawful, 
the  Archeress,  that  I  may  call  you  a  new  Actaion 
honslayer.  Put  off  these  arms.  My  women  slay 
steel-armed  warriors  with  their  bare  hands  ;  if  they 
conquer  with  unarmed  female  onset  you  clad  in 
armour,  which  of  your  people  would  praise  a  man 
outworn  in  a  battle  with  women  ?  The  Bassarid 
fears  no  feathered  shaft,  she  flees  no  spear.  No — be 
crafty  and  secret,  disguise  your  aspect  that  none 
may  know,  and  you  shall  see  all  the  mysteries  of 
danceweaving  Dionysos." 

^■^  Thus  he  persuaded  Pentheus,  since  he  lashed 
the  man's  mind,  and  shook  him,  in  the  clutches  of 
throbbing  madness  and  distraction.  .  .  .  Mene  also 
helped  Bromios,  attacking  Pentheus  with  her  divine 
scourge  ;  the  frenzied  reckless  fury  of  distracting 
Selene  joining  in  displayed  many  a  phantom  shape 
to  maddened  Pentheus,**  and  made  the  dread  son  of 
Echion  forget  his  earlier  intent,  while  she  deafened 
his  confused  ears  with  the  bray  of  her  divine  avenging 
trumpet,  and  she  terrified  the  man. 

106  Pentheus  entered  the  house  goaded  to  madness 
with  a  desire  to  see  the  secrets  of  Bacchos 's  con- 
gregation.    He  opened  the  scented  coffers,  where  lay 

VOL.  m  2  A  353 


NONNOS 

k€kXito  l,ihoviT)^  aXiTTop^vpa  wtnXa  ^aXdoovff 
Kal  xpot  noiKtXovwTov  cSuoaro  ir^Aor  *AlWi|f  * 

arrj6€a  fiirpatoas  /^aaiAiJia  kw(X£^  ^"^n?* 
/cat  noSag  taiffijKitMJt  ymxuictMNOt  WtmSoic* 
;(€i/>i  5c  Ovpaov  dtipt'  u4r€pxo§A4po%o  3^  B^ir^^c 
noiKiXo^  iXy^vTfjpi  x(rci>»'  imavprro  ropom, 

7^3u/ui>^f '  Ao^oi  &<  ir^ho¥  tcporiXitii  w«] 
CK  7ro6o9  alOvaacjv  !'''*jpO¥  w6ia'  X^P^  ^ 
BjjXvvwv  €A<Ai{cv  afUHpaha  ft/{vy»  woXfif&f 
oia  ywni  miiiovaa  xopoirvwof  ela  M  pSmtptp 
hucrunov  ap^vlf)¥  KporiuMf  irtpoivyt  vaA«^ 
•fftpiai^  p.€$€y)K€V  aXi^pova  fiiafpuY9¥  «jpa«r. 


/cat  S(3u/xou9  <t>a<^oin^f  Mptcrro  tmi 
cAttcto  5*  dicaftdrciiv  tiructUumv 
0Tjj3iyy  (Trranopoio  /i<To;(A«{«U'  wi 

o;  /icv  €;(cui'  Tpo;(0<Kra  X6^o¥  y^Ol^, 

Of  5*  M  if^pfp 

wpi^vi^s,  6  5c  7r^;(in'  cV*  dvdpos  cSyior  ^^oof        IJfl 
t^voj  dyr^prja€v  cm  ;(^oi^  ScLrmJUi  «i({af  * 
icat  ris  ct;yAcu;(ii'a  /xctt^mv  oyiror  <lpoiyjf» 
dAAo?  cVi  npo^ijTog  cVoAfuK,  ^  M  POiWillO 
5dx/itoi/  o^/xa  rtraiccv  dtpaiXo^oMf  6m^  Wfipfynm* 
OS  5c  fi€aas  OTfifMiT^bov  <tr'  oi^rvvi  X*^lp*'^^  wlfac    135 
iXV€Giv  aKpoTTopoiaiv  oit^c  ircoiMa  paimm^, 
rio^ca  TraTrraivtov  ^boi'rjp€i'0¥  dAfUtn  Xuaotft, 
Bvpaov  dcprdloiTa  Koi  aiBvaaovra  icoAinmar. 

'H5iy  5*  €7rra7r6poio  jrapthpap*  rtlx^a  Ofl^* 
864 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  109-139 

the  women's  garments  dyed  in  purple  of  the  Sidonian 
sea.  He  donned  the  embroidered  robe  of  Agaue, 
bound  Autonoe's  veil  over  his  locks,  laced  his  royal 
breast  in  a  rounded  handwork,  passed  his  feet  into 
women's  shoes  ;  he  took  a  thyrsus  in  hand,  and  as 
he  walked  after  the  Bacchants  a  broidered  smock 
trailed  behind  his  hunting  heel. 

11^  With  mimicking  feet  Pentheus  twirled  in  tlie 
dance,  full  of  sweet  madness  ;  he  rattled  the  ground 
with  sidelong  boot,  darting  one  foot  away  from 
another.  Unmanning  his  two  hands  he  shook  them 
in  alternate  beats,  Uke  a  dancing  woman  at  play  ;  as 
drumming  a  double  tune  on  the  two  plates  of  the 
cymbals,  he  loosed  his  long  hair  to  float  on  the  breezes 
of  heaven  and  struck  up  a  Euian  melody  of  Lydia. 
You  might  fairly  say  you  saw  a  wild  Bacchant  woman 
madly  rollicking.  Yes,  and  he  saw  two  suns  and  two 
cities  of  Thebes  ;  he  thought  he  could  hold  a  gate- 
house of  sevengate  Thebes,  hoisting  it  upon  his 
untiring  shoulders." 

128  Round  him  the  people  assembled  in  a  ring, 
cHmbing  one  on  a  round  tump  of  earth,  one  conspicu- 
ous high  on  a  rock,  while  a  third  rested  an  arm  over 
the  shoulder  of  a  neighbour  and  raised  his  foot  on  tip- 
toe above  the  ground :  here  one  made  for  some  lump  ^ 
sticking  out  of  the  earth,  another  was  on  a  projecting 
bastion,  another  watched  with  slanting  eye  from  the 
towering  ramparts  ;  another  hugging  a  round  pillar 
swarmed  up  with  the  flat  of  his  feet,  and  watched 
Pentheus  waving  his  thyrsus  and  fluttering  his  veil 
and  leaping  in  the  throes  of  madness. 

13*  Already  he  had  gone  round  the  walls  of  Thebes 

"  Eur.  Bacch.  912  ff . ;  these  books  are  full  of  reminiscences 
of  the  play.  ''  L.'s  conjecture,  he  now  prefers  oy^iov. 

$55 


NONNOS 

avTOfidroi^  €Xu€€aaw  avoiyo^tvwi^  wvkiAmmr  140 

17377  hk  npo  TToXrfo^  €9  ri^pa  fiiarpnxBL  onlofr 
a^pa  SpaKovToPoroio  trapiarixt  v^^mtL  ^Xptefff 
Kal  TToSi  Xva<rn€yTi  xopoinrmv  fyM>f  ^Xloomif 
baifiovos  d/xTTcAociToy  onlartpo¥  tf^f  wopfh/¥. 

'AAA*  or€  x*^pov  ucayty,  oBi  ^pv€t,  ^vt  XQpttoA,    Ui 
Kal  TcAcrai  Upofiiov  $iaaiui€€i,  i)x*  tciu  oMf 
BaaaapiBwv  dntSiXo^  €r^¥  K€iiaho(m6ot  iyff^t 

dpxd^TfJv  iXaTTjv  iuofn^K€a  ycrroM  wirfffi 

h€vSpov  ibwv  'TT€plp.€Tpov  iytfittw,  ^  iw^  ftf^iKy      laO 

dyx^^^^^^  ircroAocaiv  intaKtAcamo  KoXAfOk* 

oKporarov  bt  Kopv^ifiov  d^Mi  x^ipH  vWCcdT 

€U  ntSov,  ct9  ntbov  ttXtet 

Kara  x^y^  iKToia  llfi^fdf  .  •  • 
daXXov  d€paiTT6rnyrov,   ima^iyyoti^  hi  ^Qpfft 
t^i  Tira(>^/i€vcu»'  €hpdfaTO  Mi^  TTf^fmr^  IM 

#cai  7ro5a?  ci'^a  irat  ci^a  iraA«i«56^l|TOf  CJaotm 
dararos  opxrjarrjpi  rvntft  Kov^iltro  ItttSt^s* 

Kai  Tore  Baaaapi^am  xofHTi^Cf  iS^vAir  *Qpai' 
aAA7;Aai9  5*  €K€X€vov,  dv*l^wvyvrro  M  WwAoif, 
vc^piba  3*  dfuJKpdXoyro'  koI  o^ptoi^otfTOf  *Ayain|  160 
dif>poK6pLois  aropAr€aoi¥  dntppoifUfnotv  Zo^iSr* 

**  AiVovoT^,  <nT€v<ju}fi€v,  oiTfi  x'^pif  itm  Kimiom 

Kal    KTVTTOS    OVp€ai<f>OlTO^    OXOUCTOi    I^MSof   OlSAoO* 

o^/>a  /icAo?  TrAc^aifu  ^cA^mok,  ^^P^  Sofiw* 

TtV  TtVa  »'i*rrJ<Tfi€  dtrqiroXdovaa  KvaUp. 
hr}dtiv€L^,  dx6p€m€,  Kal  rjfiw  €^BatMW  *\vw' 
ovKcri  TTovTov  €;^€t  /x^TajxiurruK,  oAAa  mU  avn) 

•  The  dragon  which  Cadinoe  killed,  tf,  b.  SM  ff. 
S56 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  140-168 

while  the  portals  of  the  seven  gates  opened  on  self- 
moving  pivots,  already  he  had  passed  the  soft  waters  of 
dragonfeeding  °  Dirce  before  the  city,  with  his  hair 
blowing  on  the  wind  ;  and  beating  mad  feet  in  the 
circHng  dance  he  followed  his  course  behind  the 
vinegod. 

1*^  But  when  he  came  to  the  place  where  the  trees 
were,  and  the  dances  and  rites  of  the  congregation  of 
Bromios,  where  also  was  the  hunting  of  their  prickets 
by  the  unshod  Bassarids,  then  vinegod  Bacchos  was 
glad,  and  espied  in  the  mountain  forest  an  ancient  fir- 
tree  tall  as  the  neighbouring  rock,  which  cast  a  shade 
with  its  bushy  leaves  over  the  cloudhigh  hills.  With 
unflinching  hand  he  seized  the  top  of  the  tree  and 
dragged  it  down,  down  to  the  ground.  Pentheus  lay 
along  the  ground  [and  Bacchos  let  go]  the  soaring 
spire,  Pentheus  clung  to  the  tree  that  carried  him  on 
high,  grasped  the  branches  with  his  hands  as  they 
were  borne  aloft,  and  whirling  his  legs  about  this 
way  and  that  way  restlessly,  moved  lightly  like  a 
dancer.^ 

^^^  Then  came  the  dancing-hours  for  the  Bassarids. 
They  called  to  one  another  and  tucked  up  their  robes 
and  threw  on  the  fawnskins.  Hillranging  Agaue 
shouted  aloud  with  foam  on  her  Ups — 

^®2  "  Autonoe,  let  us  make  haste  to  the  dance  of 
Lyaios,  where  the  hillranging  voice  of  the  familiar 
pipe  is  heard,  that  I  may  recite  the  song  that  Euios 
loves,  that  I  may  learn  who  first  will  lead  the  dance 
for  Dionysos,  who  will  beat  whom  in  doing  worship  to 
Lyaios  !  You're  late,  you  slack  dancer,  Ino  has  got 
there  before  us  !     She  is  no  longer  an  exile  in  the  sea, 

''  This  passage,  for  the  sense  of  which  cf.  Eur.  Bacch. 
1064  flF.,  is  extremely  disordered  and  corrupt. 

357 


NONNOS 

ii  aXos  ^\0€  Biovoa  aw  vypan6fM^  MtXutdprji, 
-^Xdc  Trpoaani^ovaa  htwKOfUvov  AtOMfoov^  ITO 

fiTj  UcvOcvg  a0€fAiaTOi  irrifiplatu  \v9U^. 
MuoTtScff,  €iV  GKontXovi,  'lo^nvt^f  iXBrn  Baxxeu, 
Kal  TcAcrdy  <m}aa>/i€v,  ofioi'^Xtff  M  Mpt^ 
At^Sai;  BaGGapiB€aaiv  tpiioiuv,  ^^fi  ^H  fIvB* 

aypLov  ota  \4ovra,  Otrj^iaxw  vUa  f^^V* 
Kai  fiiv  aytipo^i€vaii  tntStucwvt  BwaotodinaH* 
vUa  8*  €fi<l>pova  &rjpa  HoXdatmro  kuaadii  fi^* 
afufH.  5<  fiw  aT€^yrj&6v  immXutoatfTO  ywwa&rti        liO 
€i6fi€vov  ntraXoiai'  teal  fihnXifim  Tu4  Zmu^ 
h€vBpov  €Trr)xvvai^To,  Koi  rjj9tXa¥  mU  xM«  flmrtw 
€pvo^  onov  Ilcf^c  ntpur^yfnaa  M  ^|iiy 
oXkov  6fio^vy€o^  naXdfifj^  /KKTiTy^on  waXfu^ 
TrpvfLvoOev  avroppi^ov  dvtanaat  oit^ipai^  *Avaif*y.     IM 
/cat  <f>UT6v  etV  x^o****  TrijrTcv  ^Y^iurwBrj  5^  KiAupcov* 
icai  Opaavs  avrotXixros  dva(  pffrdpfjuim  wakfti^ 
KVfJLpaxo^  rjfpoOfv  K€KvXiafi4VOi  4^**C  n<I^Wf» 
icat  TOTC  /ill/  AiTTc  AiHraa  vooa^aXdof  Aaoif^OQV, 
Kai  TTpoTipas  <f>p€vaq  €a;^e  to  h€vrtoo¥'  rf/l^  M  VO^  l*^ 
yctVora  tTorpxtv  tYtov  Kii'vprriv  i^iiyfaTO  ^m¥jflf 
"  Nvfufnii  *AfxaopvdBf^  p.€  Koku^nrt, 

liT^  fit  ia^iAovfi 
iraiSo(f>6voi9  TToXdfiTjoiv  €fiTj  ^iXmtcvof  'Ayoviy. 
p>fJTcp  €/x7j,  hvapLTfTip,  diTnji'^o^  ^f^X^  kuaoflt' 
Orjpa  TTodcv  KoAcciy  /ic  rov  vUa;    woia  KOfU^to        195 
arrjdea  Xaxyrjcvra;    riva  ppux^f*^  laXXut; 
ovK€Ti  yivivaKCLi  p(,  Tov  crpc^f,  o^in  AnWnr* 
rniv  fj>plva  KoX  T€ov  o/xfia  ris  ripvaat; 

X<up€,  KifimtptSm* 
358 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  169-198 

but  here  she  too  comes  running  from  the  brine 
with  MeHcertes  the  seafarer,  she  has  come  to  defend 
hunted  Dionysos,  lest  impious  Pentheus  overwhelm 
Lyaios.  Mystics,  to  the  mountains  !  Ismenian 
Bacchants,  here  !  Let  us  celebrate  our  rites,  and 
match  the  Lydian  Bassarids  with  rival  dances,  that 
some  one  may  say  — Mainad  Agaue  has  beaten 
Mygdonian  Mimallon  !  " 

^''^  As  the  words  were  spoken,  she  saw  sitting  high 
in  a  tree,  like  a  savage  Hon — the  mother  saw  her  im- 
pious son.  She  pointed  him  out  to  the  frenzied 
Bacchants  gathering  there,  and  in  the  voice  of  a 
maniac  called  her  own  human  son  a  ^\ild  beast.  The 
women  thronged  round  him  girdlewise  as  he  sat  amid 
the  leaves  ;  they  embraced  the  trunk  vdth  a  ring  of 
skilful  hands  and  tried  to  throw  down  the  tree  with 
Pentheus  in  it — but  Agaue  threw  her  two  arms  about 
the  trunk,  and  with  earthshaking  heave  pulled  the 
tree  up  from  its  base,  roots  and  all.  The  tree  fell  to 
the  ground,  and  Cithairon  was  bare.  Pentheus  the 
audacious  king  shot  through  the  air  of  himself  ^vith  a 
dancing  leap,  rolling  and  tumbling  hke  a  diver.  At 
that  moment  the  madness  left  him  which  Dionysos 
had  sent  to  confuse  his  mind,  and  he  recovered  his 
senses  again.  He  saw  fate  near  him  on  the  earth, 
and  cried  in  lamentable  tones  : 

1^2  "  Cover  me,  Hamadryad  Nymphs  !  Let  not 
Agaue  my  loving  mother  destroy  her  son  with  her  own 
hands  !  O  my  mother,  cruel  mother,  cease  from  this 
heartless  frenzy  !  How  can  you  call  me  your  son  a 
wild  beast  ?  Where  is  my  shaggy  chest  ?  Where  is 
my  roaring  voice  ?  Do  you  not  know  me  any  longer 
whom  you  nursed,  do  not  you  see  any  longer  ? 
Who  has  robbed  you  of  sense  and  sight  ?     Farewell, 

359 


NONNOS 

Xaip€T€,  h€vhp€a  rairra  Kai  ovp€a'  crc»{co*  Oijjf^ 
cTcujeo  Kcd  <TU,  4'^rj  naiBotcr&vt  M7^^  *A)Wi|.        JOO 
h€pK€o  rairra  ylvtui  viorpixa,  hiptc^o  fioo^fffif 
avSpofjA-qv  ovK  tlpX  Xtufv  ov  Oijoa  5o«r«ucfC. 

n€v6€a  7ra7rraM'€ig  /i€,  rov  rrpt^t*    mtxco,  ^Ofn(« 
fivdovs  acu>  ^uAo^oK*  avijxoof  iarw  *Aywli}.  SOS 

fiovvTj  naiba  bofiaaaov,  aycuTTOM,  f^^l^  8a|i^jl«4 

ofi^  3c'  pnv  SaanMjrrti  intpptuotno  |uwt&Ci|  SIO 

ri  /xcv  onioBibiotK  noSa^  ttpvotv,  i)  M  XntfioBoa 
h€i^iT€prriv  npoBtXvfi.i'oy  aWo»U4j<»,  A^rop^  M 
Aa(;7i/  din-cpucaicc  *  7rapanAayv0f2oa  M  Its^iflf 
arrfdii  naiSoi  €7n)(€v  iov  mm,  KtxXifMPOv  Sc  215 

ai);(cW  roA/i^cvra  hUOpiotv  6(di  Bvpatf 
Kai  <f>ovl<p  raxvyowoi  oWSpofu  )(ap§iar%  ai^jw^s, 
alfJLaT6€v  5c  Kapr)vov  dnpnu  Scurvvc  Ka5^A^* 
tl/€vBofi€vov  5c  AcoiToy  dyaAAo/Ain|  ya^tr  ^fV 
TOiov  aneppoip^rjotv  (no^  XvoatuSti  Xoifi^*  2J0 

"  Kd5/xc  fidtcapt  icoAccu  ac  fuucdprtfiair 

"Aprc/its-  (GKonia^t,  Kai  ct  wcA«  Stovt^rsf  iyf^» 
J^ijXov  vTroKXi-nrovaa  Xtovro^vov  a4o  KoiffifS* 
KoX  Apvdbc^  Odfxprjaav  tpiov  tr6vo¥'  jmrtifftfS  hk      215 
'ApfJioi'irjs  y€V€rrj9  K€Kopv$fi4voi  ^fiooi  XSyxO 
iralSa  T€r)v  daCBrjpov  €ddfx$€€  x<^*Of  'Apfff 
dvpGov  dj<ovTi^ouaav  dXoirjrijpa  Acdtncur, 

KvSlOCJV    GV   5c,    Kd5/XC,    T€U}V   cVl^^TO/W    $i»>KW¥ 

S60 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  199-229 

Cithairon,  farewell  these  mountains  and  trees  !  Be 
happy,  Thebes,  be  happy  you  too,  Agaue  my  dear 
mother  and  my  murderer  !  See  this  chin  with  its 
young  beard,  see  the  shape  of  a  man — I  am  no  lion  ; 
no  wild  beast  is  what  you  see.  Spare  the  fruit  of  your 
womb,  pitiless  one,  spare  your  breasts.  Pentheus  is 
before  you,  your  nursling.  Silence,  my  voice,  keep 
your  tale  to  yourself,  Agaue  will  not  hear  !  But  if 
you  kill  me  to  please  Dionysos,  let  no  other  destroy 
your  son,  unhappy  one,  let  not  your  son  be  destroyed 
by  the  aUen  hands  of  Bassarids." 

2^  Such  was  his  prayer,  and  Agaue  heard  him  not ; 
but  the  terrible  women  attacked  him  with  one  accord  ; 
as  he  rolled  in  the  dust,  one  pulled  on  his  legs,  one 
seized  his  right  arm  and  wrenched  it  out  at  the  joint, 
Autonoe  dragged  opposite  at  the  left ;  his  deluded 
mother  set  her  foot  on  his  chest,  and  cut  through  that 
daring  neck  as  he  lay  with  sharp  thyrsus — then  ran 
nimbleknee  with  frenzied  joy  in  his  murder,  and 
displayed  the  bloody  head  to  unwelcoming  Cadmos. 
Triumphant  in  the  capture  of  a  lion,  as  she  thought, 
she  cried  out  these  words  of  madness  : 

22^  "  Blessed  Cadmos,  more  blessed  now  I  call  you  ! 
For  in  the  mountains  Artemis  has  seen  Agaue 
triumphant  with  no  weapon  in  her  hands ;  and  even  if 
she  is  queen  of  the  hunt,  she  must  hide  her  jealousy  of 
your  honslaying  daughter.  The  Dryads  also  wondered 
at  my  work.  And  the  father  of  our  Harmonia,  armed 
with  his  familiar  lance,  brazen  Ares,  wondered  full  of 
pride  at  your  child  without  a  spear,  casting  a  thyrsus 
and  destroying  lions.     Pray  call  the  king  on  your 

361 


NONNOS 

Ucvdca  S€vpo  KoXtaaov,  onut^  ^BompfjjPUf 
$rjpo<f>6vov^  ibpatra^  onin€va«u  ymmiov,* 
8fjLw€s  €fJLoi,  crrtiXioBt,  napa  vpo^mSXata  hk  KdBfamt 
7rq(aT€  roOro  Kciprjvov  ^firjf  apaBj^fiOTa  vunf^. 
TqXucov  ov  7roT€  Orjpa  t<ar4tm»€  avyyomH  'Imw* 
AvTovorj,  GKOTTiaif  Koi  au^^wi  ttAfu^oif  *Aya^*       OS 
ov  yap  €poi  Aa^cf  t^X*^  6itoiui¥,  4i$/tr4p09  M 
prp-po^  Wpiaraioio  ^Ti{ofi^ri;r  fn  vOnfif 
arj^  €Kvprj^  jjiTxwa  Acoi^ro^cM'OiO  KtYn)n|f  •" 

KdBfjLos  dytiXXop^mrf^  €rtp6^pa¥a  waMf  immX^ji^,   MO 
fju(a9  hajcpvai  fivBoy  a^ifirro  wwMSU  4^1^' 

"  Otov  &TJpa  bdpaaoa^  ix^^po^a,  r4taf€¥  ^Ayw^; 
otov  Srjpa  hdfiaaaa^,  ov  vfirrJpfi  rim  yoar^p; 
olov  Brjpa  hdpaaaa^,  Sv  ioiripiifpftv  *EWiBfr; 
h€pK€o  aeio  Xtom-a,  rov  tlaln  rvMm  ot^pftir  $45 

natZoKopw  Kou^i^c  y^Yl^^  Kdi§iOf  dyooT^*         MT 
h€pK€o  a€io  AcotTa,  rov  'ApfW^hi  ado  fn^riip  H6 

TToXXaKi^  ri(pTai€  Kai  <Lp€y€  /ia{^  ofiAyvir.  MB 

/xaoTcucis'  O€o  iralBa  rtwv  Brpfropa  f»iA)fimir 
TTws  KoXdaui  riev^iTa,  tov  iv  mXdftjjaw  df(p€tf;     SBO 
ov  tcrdv^s  dyvwaaotHja,  noBtv  aio  ««t«8o  tcaXioow;  2SS 
drjpa  Tcov  a/fOTTtaJc,  koI  vUa  acu>  Mnfovif.  MI 

KoXd  <f>€p€is,  AiowAac,  Tcui  Bp€irrqpui.  K^hpuf  MS 

KoAa  /xoi  'Appovlrjs  wptf>€vpara  h^€  Kpoviftfr- 
''Ap€os  d^ia  ravra  Kal  Ovpat^tfs  *A^pMn^'  tM 

*Ira>  TToi^o*'  €X€i,  I.€p€Xrjv  €if>Xi(€  KpOp£B«r« 
fivperai  Airrovorj  Ktpo^v  Wicoy,  ^  /i^  SiJb) 

^  Avau>v  Mss. :  yvratbv  scripsL     I.iid«kli  ••«« 
•  C/.  V.  «9«  ;   Plnditf.  /yjk.  is.  M  C 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  230-257 

throne,  Cadmos,  call  Pentheus  here,  that  with  envious 
eyes  he  may  see  the  beastslaying  sweat  of  a  weak 
woman  ! 

232  ' '  This  way,  my  men,  hang  up  this  head  as  a  votive 
offering  of  my  victory  on  the  gatehouse  of  Cadmos. 
Sister  Ino  never  killed  a  beast  like  this  !  Look  here 
Autonoe,  and  bow  your  neck  to  Agaue  !  For  you 
have  never  won  glory  Uke  mine — the  still  famous 
victory  of  lionslaying  Cyrene,"  mother  of  your 
Aristaios  and  your  own  goodmother,  has  been  put 
to  shame  by  mine  !  " 

239  While  she  spoke,  she  lifted  her  dear  burden  ; 
but  Cadmos  hearing  the  distracted  boasts  of  his 
exulting  daughter,  answered  in  mourning  voice  and 
miingled  his  tears  with  his  words  : 

2*^  **  Ah,  what  a  beast  you  have  brought  down, 
Agaue  my  child,  one  with  human  reason  !  What  a 
beast  you  have  brought  down,  one  which  your  own 
womb  brought  forth  !  What  a  beast  you  have 
brought  down,  one  that  Echion  begat !  Look  upon 
your  lion,  one  that  Cadmos  lifted  upon  his  nursing 
arm  when  he  was  still  a  little  tot,  held  in  his  joyful 
arms.  Look  upon  your  lion,  one  that  your  mother 
Harmonia  often  caught  up  and  held  to  your  suclding 
breast.  You  search  for  your  son  to  see  your  work : 
how  can  I  call  Pentheus,  when  you  hold  him  in  your 
hands  ?  How  can  I  call  your  son,  whom  you  have 
killed  in  ignorance  ?  Look  at  your  beast,  and  you 
will  recognize  your  son. 

253  "  O  Dionysos  !  A  fine  return  you  bring  to 
Cadmos  who  reared  you  !  Fine  bridal  gifts  Cronion 
gave  me  with  Harmonia  !  They  are  worthy  of  Ares 
and  heavenly  Aphrodite.  Ino  is  in  the  sea,  Semele 
was  burnt  by  Cronion,  Autonoe  mourns  her  horned 

363 


NONNOS 
€KTav€v,  ov  r4K€  fiovvov,  aa»piO¥  vUr  *Ayoifiy, 

KOI   fJLOY€€t    WoXvSwpO^    €flO^   XtW&nOTp^   uAipi^. 

fiovvo^  €yw  XiTTOfi-qv  i-cVvy  tfinvoof*  fif  rtm  ^tfiym,  MO 

ris  TToAty  d^cti;  /x«  &«WfcTOi;  <>p€,  Kt^oipcMr* 
yripoKoyuovs  KaS/xoto  icar/irrowf ,  d^i^oripavf  M 
v€Kp6v  €X€is  l\€i'0ija,  KOi  'AjrroMiiMi  miAvvTiic. 

*Q?  4>ayiivov  Kad/iOio  yoor  Kpoumfiitf  IMom      tM 
BaKpuuL  Trqyaioiai  yiputv  iicXavat  Ki#Qi^t<r* 

Ni^tadcf .    TroAii7i'  ^  /ro/ii/v  ^pooro  iU8yiov 
icoi  oTOKix^  Aiowooc*  dircv^i/rov  hk  mpomitnm 
fju(a^  Sdtcpv  yiXuni  voov  fitr^&riictv  *Ayat^,  flO 

'H  3^  furaarp4*lfaaa  v6a¥  aai  dwum¥  Smmwijiif 
avTonayrji  d^oyyo^  iiri  y^tivoif  SvrsTO  l^vTilP* 
fcai  K€<fxiXrfv  nci^^^  onintvovoa  9n»d¥r99 
ripiTrev  auroKvXiaro^ ,  vnip  Sav^^oto  8^  SciAi)  f7f 

pocnpvxov  alaxvi'ovija  Yurfj  9(€KvXurro  koi^* 
^cu  Aaaibuff  IppuJKV  diro  <rr/p«^o«o  ytT&MOf 

OTTj^ca  iftowi^aaa  #cat  daKcWciiy  vti^XA  fMi{<i>y* 

KOi  Kvacv  UU09  d/i/xa  kcu  tyx^oa  k^kAo  vyMMNuvotf  SW 

#cai  ttAo/co/uou?  ;(api(»Ta9  tp€vdopiiipo*o  m^i^MW* 

"  NijA€n79  Aidwwc,  Tc-ny  ajcoprjm  ytPwBXrff, 
hos  npoT€prjv  cTi  Auaaai'  c/xoi  troAiy*  ilfm  yap  oAAi^ 
Xcipova  Xvaaav  €xoj  Ttiwro^pova'  hdf  fUM  imuffff   flO 
d<t>poavvrjv,  iva  Brjpa  to  Scvrc/KM'  uta  ffoA^dOW. 
^/xi  jSoActi'  iSoirqoa'  vcot/xt^tcmo  W  Kdportfi 

*  ActaioD  in  hb  stag-fthftpe. 
5d4 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  258-287 

son,"  and  Agaue — what  misery  for  Agaue  !  She  has 
killed  her  only  son,  her  own  son  untimely  ;  and  my 
Polydoros  ^  wanders  in  sorrow,  a  banished  man. 
Alone  I  am  left,  in  a  living  death.  Who  will  be  my 
refuge,  now  Pentheus  is  dead  and  Polydoros  gone  ? 
What  foreign  city  will  receive  me  ?  Curse  you, 
Cithairon  !  You  have  slain  those  two  who  should 
cherish  Cadmos  in  old  age  :  Pentheus  is  with  you, 
dead,  Actaion  is  buried  in  your  soil." 

265  When  Cadmos  had  ended,  ancient  Cithairon 
groaned  from  his  springs  and  poured  forth  tears  in 
fountains;  the  trees  lamented,  the  Naiad  Nymphs 
chanted  dirges.  Dionysos  was  abashed  before  the 
hoary  head  of  Cadmos  and  his  lamentations ;  mingling 
a  tear  with  a  smile  on  that  untroubled  countenance, 
he  gave  reason  back  to  Agaue  and  made  her  sane 
once  more,  that  she  might  mourn  for  Pentheus. 

271  The  mother,  herself  again  with  eyes  that  she 
could  trust,  stood  awhile  rigid  and  voiceless.  Then 
seeing  the  head  of  Pentheus  dead  she  threw  herself 
down,  and  rolled  in  helpless  misery  on  the  ground 
smearing  the  dust  on  her  hair.  She  tore  the  shaggy 
skins  from  her  breast  and  threw  doAvn  the  goblets  of 
Bromios's  company,  scoring  her  chest  and  the  cleft 
between  her  bare  breasts  with  red  scratches.  She 
kissed  her  son's  eyes  and  his  pallid  cheeks,  and  the 
charming  locks  of  his  bloodstained  hair ;  then  with 
bitter  lamentation  she  spoke  : 

283  **  Cruel  Dionysos,  insatiable  persecutor  of  your 
family  !  Give  me  back  my  former  madness — for  a 
worse  madness  possesses  me  now  in  my  sanity.  Give 
me  back  that  delirium,  that  I  may  call  my  son  a  wild 
beast  once  more.     I  thought  I  had  struck  a  beast — 

"  Cf,  V.  206  ff. 

365 


NONNOS 

dml  Aeoi^€tij5  K€<^riv  Hrv^^  OMifit^. 

oXpir)  Avrov&rj  fitipvhaKpvo^,  Srm 

ecTTCVcv  *A#craui>w,  koI  ov  9tr6p€»  vU^  I^V^P'        290 

fjLovvri  iyw  y€v6firjv  naiSoKr6¥Of  06  McAiic^/ynjr 

dAAa  TTarrip  thafiaaat,  rov  ^|^oo«y.    d  l»4ya  SciAi}, 
Zeus'  'L€fi(X]]  7Tapuiv€v,  onutt  UtMja  ycHow 

KaBfulrfv  Iva  ndaav  aurratatu  yvfi^ikm. 
IXriKoi  Aiot^txrof  *  okov  yivot  wXtat  Kaifiem. 
oAAd  OtoKXijrov  vafLirji'  fieri  haZra  rpaw^ltft, 
*Apfiovir)s  fura  Xitcrpov, 

apxalrjv  KiBdprjv  hov^urv  wdXu^  aiMr  *Aw6Xitm       100 
Bprjvov  €va  ytAit^cm  urol  Ai^roi^  icol  'Ay«^ 
wKvpxypov  U€v0y)a  teal  'AjfTO^ftiPa,  Aty/nttlP. 

ov  7TW  aoi9  SaXdfxoioiv  itfov^kaa  ¥mii^om6piaif  iriJjp* 
ov  t^vyujjv  rJKovaa  rccuv  viUvatO¥  *EMartmr  900 

TTolov  tSw  a€o  naZba  miprjfyopov:    aW4  at  B^M^ 
oAAt;  a7rrjXoi'qa€ ,  Kai  ov  iroXvfiO)^^Of  *AyM^. 
fJi'qrfpi  fiaii'OfX€v^  pr)  fUp^o,  hvouop€   lltv$€0' 
BaKxoi  p€p4>€o  pdXXov  di'atTt6f  ioTW  'Ayatn^. 
X€i/>€5  €fiai,  <f>iX€  Kovp€,  Tftjv  (nt£{otioir  ^/poi|v       910 
avx€vos  dprjOan-os'  an*  avroxvTOv  hi  ttofi^imv 
alpa  reov  prjrpwov  oXov  ^ivt(€  Yirw¥a* 
val,  Xiropxii,  tipopiov  bort  /km  oims* 

XvOpov  ipxiv  ricv^^o^  €7rumMcj  AiovMUfi. 

aoi  p€v  iyu)  <t>tX6SaKpv^ ,  ao>pi€,  rvfifiov  iyt(pat        915 

X€p<yiv  cfuxi?  atcdprjvov  tviKp^JHioa  Kovifi 

GOV  Sc/ias*  vp^T€pw  5*  CW4  crjfiaTi  rovro  ;(a/xt(a»* 

866 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  288-317 

1  hold  a  head  newly  cut  from  the  neck,  but  no  lion's 
head,  it  is  Pentheus  !  Autonoe  is  happy  for  all  her 
heavy  tears,  for  she  mourned  Actaion  dead,  and  the 
mother  slew  not  her  son.  I  alone  have  become  a 
childmurderer.  Ino  slew  not  Melicertes  or  Learchos, 
Ino  my  banished  sister,  but  the  father  destroyed  the 
son  he  had  begotten.  How  unhappy  I  am  !  Zeus 
slept  with  Semele  only  that  I  might  mourn  Pentheus ; 
Zeus  the  father  childed  Dionysos  from  his  o\\ti  thigh, 
only  to  destroy  the  whole  family  of  Cadmos.  May 
Dionysos  forgive  me,  he  has  destroyed  the  whole  race 
of  Cadmos.  Now  may  even  Apollo  strike  his  harp 
again  as  before,  as  at  the  marriage  feast  where  the 
gods  were  guests,  as  by  Harmonia's  bed,  as  in  the 
bridechamber  of  my  father  Cadmos,  let  him  twangle 
one  dirge  for  Autonoe  and  Agaue  both,  and  chant 
loudly  of  Actaion  and  Pentheus  so  quickly  to 
perish.  What  medicine  is  there  for  my  sorrow,  O 
my  dearest  boy  ?  I  have  never  lifted  the  marriage 
torch  at  your  wedding  ;  I  have  never  heard  the 
bridal  hymn  for  your  wedded  love.  What  son  of 
yours  can  I  see  to  comfort  me  ?  Would  that  some 
other,  some  Bacchant,  had  destroyed  you,  not  all- 
wretched  Agaue  !  Blame  not  your  frenzied  mother, 
illfated  Pentheus,  blame  Bacchos  rather — Agaue  is 
innocent !  My  hands,  dear  lad,  are  dripping  with 
the  dew  from  your  shorn  neck,  the  blood  from  your 
head  has  incarnadined  all  the  robe  of  the  mother 
who  shed  it.  Yes,  I  beseech  you,  give  me  the  cup 
of  Bromios  ;  for  instead  of  vrine  I  will  pour  the  blood 
of  my  Pentheus  as  a  Ubation  to  Dionysos.  For  you, 
untimely  dead,  I  will  build  amid  my  tears  a  tomb 
with  my  own  hands.  I  will  lay  in  the  earth  your 
headless  body  ;  and  on  your  monument  I  will  carve 

367 


NONNOS 

'  €ifu  v€Kvs  ncv%>9,  6hoi'n6fif  ¥fifi^  'AysAff 

#cai  cirrow  waiio^Ant  X^ip*  " 
"Eio'CTrc  Xvaawovaa  ao^H  4f^'  M'lP^**^^  W      »> 
Avroi'OTy  yoooKTa  nap'^yopop  ui)pf  ^Cdr^ 

"  Z^AoF  €va>  icai  tpwra  rrrii  KOteiSnfnK,  *Ayoi^, 
oTTt  nepiTTTVoatif  yAvHtpffv  ncv^^Of  ^vonn^ 
^ai  oTOfjLa  Kcu  ^iXov  ofifia  k<u  vUof  Skpa  ito§iiAmf. 
yvwrri,  l-noXpil^w  at,  tcai  €i  «rT^Mf  v2m  M^pV*      '^ 
a>n-i  yaf>  *Aicrattui«of  a^ifio^Uwfif  im^  fsopf/i^ 
V€pp6v  <vai  Sdtcpvaa,  tau  vUof  arri  irapijiNOV 
p.r)K€^ayfw  iXd^oio  v6$ifv  tmodtfa  tnpai 
arj^  5*  odin^  iXdx€ui  wapalpaatf,  &rn 
ovK  i5€f  oAAoibi'  rv7n¥  vUot,  o^  ^P^X*  i 
oi)  x^Ai7v  dvoi^TroK  itcov^uraf  i^  tt^pahpr 
fiovvrj  8'  cSpoxoi'  t^ta  mSAot  »tf««r,  ^JUo^  M 
Koi  OTiKT-qv  Kal  dvauSov  itcwmfoif  cMpb  iiop^ijt, 
Kol  firirrjp  cAo^oio  iral  odK^rt  wmUt  ^Utoifof. 
oAAd  (7i)  ^i;5ai>x>u<7a,  AiO^  ^iXom^JlBtm  HO^pni,  SU 

dvSpos  €fiov  ato  ^oifiov  ^ApumMUMO  roir^ 
eiV  €Xa(f)OV  p,€rdp,€ujtov  iprtv  fipotonUa  UOgM'^' 
80?  x^P**'  'A7roAAa>»a-  p.€T    'AicTalmn  oi  MiAi)r 
roi?  aim)!?  atcvXaKtaai  koI  AvTO¥6mt  w6p§  ^opfi^ 
fj  Kvalu  vfi€r€poiaiV'  €aa0ptjaji  6i  RiAupoir  Mt 

p,rfr€pa  Kal  pL€rd  TralSa  KWOoiiMa'  ^dfM  fU  5ciA]^ 
acjv  €Xd(f><ov  fi€d€7rovaav  un;y  KtpOM^ia  /iop^ifr 
dypta  fiaarl^ovaa  reij  {ct>fcia(  din|»7y. 
Xaipc  ^irrof  Ilcv^j,  dptiXix^  XP^P*  KtBo»pfifr 
Xaip€T€  Kal  vdp$r)K€^  dfifpatvoov  ^UMif6omf  Mf 

orcojcd  /lot,  Oa^^oiv  T€pi{ttpfipoT€'  XofLWt  KoXumus' 
Xdp7T€  Kal  dynfxrripoiq ,  AT/rcuiSi  iral  ^U¥vmp' 
€1  8c  rcai?  aKTcai  koI  dvtpas  otaOa  8a|ii£oo«tt, 
868 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  318-348 

these  words  :  *  Wayfarer,  I  am  the  body  of  Pentheus  ; 
the  cherishing  womb  of  Agaue  brought  me  forth,  and 
the  murdering  hand  of  Agaue  slew  her  son.'  " 

^^  So  spoke  the  maddened  creature  in  words  of 
sanity — and  while  she  lamented,  Autonoe  spoke  with 
a  sorrowful  voice  of  consolation  : 

322  "I  envy  and  desire  your  unhappiness,  Agaue  ; 
for  you  kiss  the  sweet  face  of  Pentheus,  his  lips  and 
his  dear  eyes  and  the  hair  of  your  son.  Sister,  I 
think  you  happy,  even  if  you  the  mother  slew  your 
own  son.  But  I  had  no  Actaion  to  mourn  ;  his  body 
was  changed,  and  I  wept  over  a  fawn — instead  of 
my  son's  head  I  buried  the  long  antlers  of  a  changeling 
stag.  It  is  a  small  consolation  to  you  in  your  pain, 
that  you  have  seen  your  dead  son  in  no  alien  shape, 
no  fawn's  fell,  no  unprofitable  hoof,  no  horn  you  took 
up.  I  alone  saw  my  son  as  a  changeling  corpse, 
I  lamented  an  image  of  alien  shape  dappled  and 
voiceless  ;  I  am  called  mother  of  a  stag  and  not 
a  son.  But  I  pray  to  thee,  prudish  daughter  of 
Zeus,  glorify  thy  Phoibos  the  begetter  of  Aristaios 
my  husband,  and  change  my  mortal  shape  to  a 
deer — do  grace  to  Apollo  !  Give  unhappy  Autonoe 
also  as  a  prey  to  the  same  dogs  as  Actaion,  or  to 
your  own  hounds  ;  let  Cithairon  see  the  mother  torn 
by  dogs  even  after  the  son,  but  when  I  am  changed 
to  the  same  horned  shape  as  thy  deer,  yoke  me  not, 
unhappy,  to  thy  car  nor  flog  me  fiercely  with  thy 
whip. 

3^  "  Farewell,  tree  of  Pentheus,  farewell  pitiless 
Cithairon  ;  farewell  also  ye  fennels  of  mind-deluding 
Dionysos  !  Happy  be  thou,  Phaethon  men's  delight  ! 
Shine  on  the  hills  ;  show  thy  light  both  for  Leto's 
daughter  and  Dionysos  !     And  if  thou  knowest  how 

VOL.  Ill  2  B  369 


NONNOS 

Gio  Kadapw  trvpi  j3aAA€  koI  Atho¥Off¥  KfU  Kywkiff* 
€aao  hk  riam^iy?  n^riopoi,  ^^^Ips  /■^'^•^'^^ 
*ApfJLovirj^  y€V€T€tpav  aviA^ioaiif    K^ptMpff* 

EfTre,  KoX  cjX€aiT€Kvo7  Sivprro  ftaXXo¥  *Ayaif>7. 
Kol  V€KW,  ov  Kar€n€^v€,  ^^V  TW/i/5rucitttO  fi^n^p 
TTiSaKa  SaKpu6€aaav  dyafiXviotfoa  wpoowmtHf 
Kal  Td<f>ou  €V7ToirjTov  irtKTVp^omQ  woActvu. 

*Uy  at  p,4v  artvdxpyro  j<an;^/ff  €loop6u0if  hk 
Bcuc;(Of  ai^  tXdaipt,  ^iXoBprfpnvi  hk  yv^faucog 
pvpop.lvaq  dvtKo*lKv,  hrtl  aroiX'i^^  itcdirrji 
XvGiTTovov  K€pdaa^  /xcAii^t  ^dpfiomt^  ofay 

trtvdipov  (np-qw€  y^^  inui^OM  fiMf 

iX-nlZo^  €aaop.€inji  rrpwrdYytXn  $ia 
*\XXvplr)v  5*  cm  yoTav  <V  'C<nr«^^  j^tfrfwi 
*Apfxovlrjv  XiTToirarpiv  oyLOarokon^  ^JJUm 

Kat  Sarvpou;  #cai  Ilds^f  ^[x^O'*' 
dppos  daiyTTotaiv  ttcwfuiat  BtjUtyor  *AA(Mur* 

•  He  idenUfies  Apollo  with  the  Sun,  and  hb  •mm*  wMi 
its  rays. 

*  Since    Pasipha^'s   trouble   mroat   ham 


370 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVI.  349-369 

to  destroy  men  also  with  thy  rays,"  strike  with  thy 
pure  fire  Autonoe  and  Agaue.  Be  Pasiphae's 
avenger,^  to  plague  with  a  laugh  Harmonia's  mother 
Aphrodite." 

^2  She  spoke  ;  and  Agaue  childmurderer  sorrowed 
yet  more.  The  loving  mother  entombed  the  dead  son 
whom  she  had  slain,  pouring  a  fountain  of  tears  over 
her  face,  and  the  people  built  a  goodly  sepulchre. 

^^  So  they  mourned  in  dejection  ;  Lord  Bacchos 
saw  and  pitied,  and  checked  the  dirge  of  the  lament- 
ing women,  when  he  had  mingled  a  medicine  with 
honeysweet  wine  and  passed  it  to  each  in  turn  as  a 
drink  to  lull  their  troubles.  He  gave  them  the  drink 
of  forgetfulness,  and  when  Cadmos  lamented  he 
soothed  his  sorrowful  moans  with  healing  words.  He 
sent  Autonoe  and  Agaue  to  their  beds,  and  showed 
them  oracles  of  god  to  tell  of  coming  hope.  Over  the 
Illyrian  country  to  the  land  of  the  Western  sea  he  sped, 
and  banished  Harmonia  with  Cadmos  her  agemate, 
both  wanderers,  for  whom  creeping  Time  had  in 
store  a  change  into  the  shape  of  snaky  stone." 

^^^  Then  Bacchos  with  his  Pans  and  Satyrs  whipt  up 
his  lynxes,  and  went  in  gorgeous  pomp  to  farfamed 
Athens. 

directed  love,  let  her  father  the  Sun  take  vengance  on  the 
love  goddess's  children. 

"  At  the  end  of  their  lives,  Zeus  transformed  Cadmos  and 
Harmonia  into  stone  serpents,  and  placed  them  in  Elysium. 


371 


AIONTSIAKON  TESSAPAKOCTON 
EBAOMON 

''Epx€0  Ttaaapoxoarov  i^  €pSofiO¥, 

fcal  fiopos  'IicopuMO  Koi  afipoxi'rw¥  *A/Mdonf. 

"llbrj  8'  Ma  teal  Ma  Si*  dtmof  IvniTO  ^^ 
dyycAoy  aurofiorjro^  ipurrtv^vXov  ^Mffffioom 
WrOibi  <f>oiTi^Qain'o^'  dfctHfiTfrov  M  Avolov 
€19  \op6v  €ViitSiv€^  ifiaxx'iv0ffawf  *A^i|NM. 
KoX  TToAu?  ^i3p<fi<  KwfitK'  ofiriytp^tf  W  woArrs* 
c'/xaai  Sa(5aA<oi<7(»'  af(;(Aamo<my  ^lyiM^ 
;(€p<7i  'noXv<j7T€p<€aaiv'  acfi^cmNO  8j  B^iQ^ 
•fliitplhwv  TTiToXoiatv  tfUTpiuBfiaap  *AINJMU 
avrd/xarot*  <fndXag  5c  ai&Tjpo^6poj¥  ^tA  /ia{«r 
arqdeai,  fivarinoXounv  dvc^uivwrro  yuMUicf(« 
napdeviKai  S*  €\6p€vov,  cVcor^^^arro  W  n^yNlifS 

•  Perhaps  the  most  corrupt  paMsire  fal  Nl 
attempt  to  translate  it  ctintiniiouHlv  rr^uHji  in  i 
what  could  it  mean  to  say  that  (Ue  women  ifirt  an] 
around  their  "  mail-clad  hr(-a-<>t>  "  of  that  driiiking-ciips 
hunff  like  a  girdle  around  anything  ?  Attic  womtti  did  not 
go  about  in  corselets,  and  Nonnos  knew  thejr  did  BoCt  tlM 
words  must  refer  to  Athena  in  perMNi  or  lo  her  fMtmtm 
Drinking-cups  are  of  course  part  oi  the  Dioojiioe  i4»|MU«tai» 

872 


BOOK  XLVII 

Come  to  the  forty-seventh,  in  which  is  Perseus,  and 

the  death  of  Icarios,  and  Ariadne  in  her 

rich  robes. 

Already  Rumour  was  flitting  up  and  down  the  city, 
announcing  of  herself  that  Dionysos  of  the  grapes 
had  come  to  visit  Attica ;  and  proUfic  Athens  broke 
out  into  wild  dancing  for  unresting  Lyaios.  Loud 
was  the  sound  of  revelling  ;  crowds  of  citizens  with 
forests  of  fluttering  hands  decked  out  the  streets 
in  hangings  of  many  colours,  and  vineleaves  which 
Bacchos  made  to  grow  wreathed  themselves  all  over 
Athens.  [The  women  hung  mystic  plates  of  iron  over 
their  breasts  and  bound  them  round  their  bodies" :]  the 
maidens  danced  and  crowned  their  brows  with  flowers 

but  no  one  and  nothing  had  a  string  of  them  slung  about  him 
or  it.  The  only  possible  explanation  seems  to  be  that  some- 
thing, probably  two  or  three  lines,  has  dropped  out  and  the 
remainder  been  patched  together  by  a  copyist  into  the  present 
verse  9.  Perhaps  the  archetype  of  our  mss.  was  damaged 
and  illegible  here.  The  general  sense  may  have  been  : 
"  Drinking-cups  the  men  now  held  instead  of  weapons  (or 
tools)  ;  even  through  the  mail-clad  breasts  of  Athena  there 
shot  a  shaft  of  Bacchic  extasy  ;  and  the  women  girt  their 
bosoms,  used  to  {Demeter^s  ?)  mysteries  with  (some  Dionysiac 
emblem,  such  as  vine-leaves)."  Marcellus  conjectures 
<f>dXXovs  here  and  ix.  125,  xlvi.  278,  where  it  makes  sense 
although  there  is  no  evidence  in  support. 

373 


NONNOS 

dvdei  KiaoTitvri  n€pi7rXoKov  ^ArBHa  j(u/rw. 
*IAi(7ao9  8'  cAcAiJc  TTcpi  irroXiy  </ifrroor  Aciif 
/cuSaiVoJi'  Aion;cyo»'-  o/io{i)A<fi  W  xOP^hl 
Evu)v  €Kpovovro  /icAoy  KiT^iScf  ojSoA,  U 

<l>uTaXirf  8*  di'c'rcAAc*',  awo  x^'omcma  o^  irrfXwo* 
avT(xt>irq^  yXvKtpolo  irfiraivofUvov  TOttrrtHO 
^oTpvi  €Xairf€VTo^  ^^Oivt'x^  Ma^oMppf* 
fcai  S/}U€;  €t/iiBvpiiov,  avoiyofUvotv  M  wmf^Mr 
Siypooi'  riptvyoin-o  poSov  Xri/uiin8cf  *1V^*  *> 

#cai  Kplvov  avror(\€<rrov  iuoAwofurro  icoXuf¥Qi. 
Koi  ^pvyloi^  avXoiaiy  €ir4tmrw€¥  a^Xif  *AAi)r7r, 
Koi  SiSvpLOv  K€XdBijfia  B6¥a(  ^ycuMV  *Ajnfm^ 
dXip6p€Uo^  naXdfijDOW  o^ioyXwoouMf  S*  im6Ait§tAt^ 
MuySoviT)  BapvSovno^  ofioapoof  Hvyi 


dpX^yovw  Zaymjc  Kal  otfuy^i^  Aiowfay* 
pLyqaap.€vr)  8*    IrvAoio  icoi  MrfOi><W»  #Uoili4Xiyy      k) 
avvBpoog  aloXo^ipo^  dvttcXay€¥  *At^  dbfOftir, 
fcai  Z€<f>vpov  AoAo?  opri9  imtapo^hff  Wr  |ioA«ifr, 
pLvrjoTiv  oXrjv  T-qprjo^  dtroppi^aaa  $V€Matf. 

OuSc  Tt;  i^v  dxo/Kirro^  <mi  nroAAy.  oMLp  d  j^oijpair 
Bdic;(09  cV    iKapcou  Boftov  '^Av^cv,  ^  imtv  ^UAoir  jj 
<l>€pT€po^  dypovopiDv  IrtporpoTra  MfSpa 
dypavXois  3c  TroScaai  ytputv  cvdpcvcv  oAoicvr 
ddpTjaas-  Aidia;aov  cTTT^AwSa,  koAAi^i^cuv  5^ 
KoLpavov  r)p.€pCbwv  dXtyn  (caoaac  r/wWJjy 
'Hpiydi^  8*  iK€paaa€v  at^vaoofUyfi  yAoyw  <uyuir*  49 

•  This  line  has  atUchrd  to  it  an  amiitiM  bit  of  Utetmrj 
hbtory.  Ikntley  quotrd  it  in  hb  DisMriaham  9m  Pkaimrm, 
p.  25  of  the  edition  of  1699,  to  ^miw  that  Um  OORCCt  iam  of 
874 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  12-40 

of  ivy  braided  in  Attic  hair.  Ilissos  rolled  round  the 
city  living  water  to  glorify  Dionysos  ;  the  banks  of 
Cephisos  echoed  the  Euian  tune  to  the  universal 
dance.  The  plant  shot  up  from  the  bosom  of  the 
earth,  grapes  selfgrown  witli  sweet  fruit  ripening  red- 
dened the  olive-groves  of  Marathon.  Trees  whispered, 
meadows  put  forth  in  season  roses  of  two  colours 
with  opening  petals,  the  hills  gave  birth  to  the  lily 
selfgrown.  Athena's  pipes  answered  the  Phrygian 
pipes,  the  Acharnian  reed  pressed  by  the  fingers 
played  its  double  ditty.  The  native  Bacchant  leaned 
her  arm  on  the  young  Pactolian  bride,  and  sounded  a 
double  harmony  with  deep  note  answering  the  Myg- 
donian  girl,  or  held  up  the  dancing  nightly  flame 
of  double  torches,  for  Zagreus"  born  long  ago  and 
Dionysos  lately  born.  The  melodious-throated  night- 
ingale of  Attica  sang  her  varied  notes  in  the  chorus, 
remembering  Itylos  and  Philomela  busy  at  the  loom  ; 
and  the  chattering  bird  of  Zephyros  ^  twittered  under 
the  eaves,  casting  to  the  winds  all  memory  of  Tereus. 
2*  No  one  in  the  city  did  not  dance.  Then  Bacchos 
glad  went  to  the  house  of  Icarios,  who  excelled  the 
other  countrymen  in  planting  new  sorts  of  trees.  The 
old  gardener  danced  on  his  clownish  feet  when  he  saw 
Dionysos  as  his  \dsitor,  and  entertained  the  lord  of 
noble  gardenvines  at  his  frugal  board.  Erigone  * 
went  to  draw  and  mingle  milk  of  the  goats,  but 

the  god's  name  was  Zagreus  and  not  Zagraios.  Two  modern 
editors  gravely  inform  the  public  that  there  is  no  such  verse 
and  that  Bentley  quoted  from  memory  (which  he  probably 
did,  and  knew  his  Greek  authors  better  than  either  his  con- 
temporary or  his  later  critics).  See  the  Bohn  edition  of  the 
Dissertation  (London,  1883),  p.  91. 

''  Imitated  from  Leonidas  in  the  Greek  Anthology  x.  1. 

«  Icarios's  daughter. 

375 


NONSOS 

dXXd  €  BoKxof  €pvH€,  ittiXoaTopytit  hi  yHtoun^ 
omaa€  Xvai-novoio  ^iBrf^  Jytcvfimnf  ioKmt» 
Sc^iTcpij  8*  €voSfiov  fx*^  Wway  ^fikn  O&09 
<jjp€y€v  *lKaplw'  ^hXiio  5*  i7<nr«l(rro  pM^' 

"  Acfo,  ytpov,  t6S<  hcjf>o¥, 

8  fiii  h4hdaow  *ABfJ¥ai. 
tu  yepov,  oXPi^w  at'  at  yap  fUXi^omn  voATrai 
Tolov  tnog  fioowvrt^t  ori  tcXlof  ttpCf  iKiyfai 
*lKdpiog  KcAcoto  Kal  'Upiyatnj  McTBl^pnf. 
^TjXov  c^oi  npoTtprji  ^r^fiip'tpos,  Sm  teal  oMi 
dXXw  y€ion6v€p  ard)(W  6fiinno¥  wmun  Ai^. 
TptTTToXtfio^  ardxyv  t^pt, 

av  b*  oowa  ficrpw^ 
tAao9  ovpavup  Tawiirfbtl  fiovvof  ipHttig, 
TpiTTToXifiov  trpor^poto  fiatcdprtpt  *  Bv^u^Popovf  y^ 
ov  crrdxvt^  Xvovat  fuXrjSotfag,  oipor6itm  hi 
j3aTpU€9  dvbpofitrjs  rrair'foftf  tiauf  ^Hfbfi*'  Aft 

Toiov  tiros  Kar4Xt(t,  f^iXo^tlvw  hi  ytpmi^ 
dppov  iytpaivooio  htnag  ndptv  /uirAffor  o&Otf' 
Kal  ttUv  oAAo  /iCT*  aXXo  ytputv  ^vr9tpy6i  dXuMVf, 
olarpov  t\(t}v  dtcoprfTov  tvppt^BdfUYyof  i^ptppt' 
Kovprj  S*  dm-l  voAokto^  d^u9aafcon|  X^^'^  O&OV     iO 
Loptyt  xtipl  KxmtXXov,  ttos  iiU9voo%  ro«r^. 
oAA*  oTt  hr)  Kopov  tvpt  KimtAXohdKOto  rpaWCi|f , 
hoxfJiios  dfi<l>itXiKTos  tpia^aXis  ix^of  IXiaaw^ 
noaalv  dfioipaioiaiv  dvtaKiprrfotv  dXtMt€VS, 
Tsayptos  Eviov  vfivov  dvaKpovoȴ  ^um^vom,  ftft 

dypovofui)  8c  ytpovTi  <f>v7yjK6fxos  cSmaoc  oa(fM0r 
KXrjfiaTa  porpvotyra,  ((nXtvia  batpa  rpaOfHifS* 


•  The  king  of  EleusU  whom  Drmetcr 
was  his  queen,  Triptolemos  either  his  mm 
S76 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  41-67 

Bacchos  checked  her,  and  handed  to  the  kindly  old 
man  skins  full  of  curetrouble  liquor.  He  took  in  his 
right  hand  and  offered  Icarios  a  cup  of  sweet  fragrant 
wine,  as  he  greeted  him  in  friendly  words  : 

*5  "  Accept  this  gift,  Sir,  which  Athens  knows  not. 
Sir,  I  deem  you  happy,  for  your  fellow-citizens  will 
celebrate  you,  proclaiming  aloud  that  Icarios  has 
found  fame  to  obscure  Celeos,**  and  Erigone  to  outdo 
Metaneira.  I  rival  Demeter  of  the  olden  days, 
because  Deo  too  brought  a  gift,  the  harvest-corn,  to 
another  husbandman.  Triptolemos  discovered  corn, 
you  the  winecheeked  grape  of  my  vintage.  You 
alone  *  rival  Ganymedes  in  heaven,  you  more  blessed 
than  Triptolemos  was  before  ;  for  corn  does  not  dis- 
solve the  sorrows  that  eat  the  heart,  but  the  wine- 
bearing  grape  is  the  healer  of  human  pain." 

^^  Such  were  the  words  he  spoke,  as  he  offered  a 
handsome  cup  full  of  mindawakening  wine  to  the 
hospitable  old  man.  The  old  hardworking  gardener 
drank,  and  drank  again,  with  desire  insatiable  for 
the  dewy  trickling  drops.  His  girl  poured  no  more 
milk,  but  reached  him  cup  after  cup  of  wine  until 
her  father  was  drunken  ;  and  when  at  last  he  had 
taken  enough  of  that  table  spread  ^vith  cups,  the 
gardener  skipt  about  with  changing  step,  staggering 
and  rolling  sideways,  and  struck  up  the  Euian  chant 
of  Zagreus  for  Dionysos.  Then  the  plantloving  god 
presented  to  the  old  countryman  Euian  shoots  of  vine 
in  return  for  his  hospitable  table,  and  the  Lord  taught 

"  The  word  tXaos  is  very  doubtful.  It  means  "  graci- 
ous," "  benign,"  and  is  correctly  used  of  the  feeling  of  a 
kindly  deity  or  other  superior  being  towards  his  inferiors,  but 
seems  very  much  out  of  place  of  good  old  Icarios.  It  seems 
likely  that  some  such  epithet  as  ydl'os  should  be  read,  "  you 
on  earth  rival  Ganymede  in  heaven." 

877 


NONNOS 

Kai  fuv  dva(  cSiSofcv  ac(c^t^^  rm  r^xiqi 
KXdaaai  fioBpuxaai  rt  paXiiv  r  M  tsk^ftmra  Yvpo%^' 
"AAAoif  5*  dypovofUHoi  y^ptt^  ^irroyyh  dXaMvr  70 


SaiwfjL€voifS  T)v^p€uv€v  inoaovrdfioun  KvmMtHf, 
OLvoSoKwv  $vo€aaav  dyaimifaf  v^iow  datcuttt,  ^s 

Kai  Tis*  €y€pOiv6<HO  nulftf  p6o¥  imor  ob99 
^Hpiyovri^  y€vrrfjpa  ^tktft  fUiXifaro  firfiy 
"  Eln€,  ytpov,  7rd$€P  tiptf 

ovK  dno  NrjiaBiov  fuXitfida  6&pa  itofdinif*  tO 

ov  yap  dvafiXvioiHii  ^Xippura  ^ffilj^ars  wf/yai, 

ov  p6o^  *lXiaaoio  x^n-^*  6ouffa<amu  dXttA* 

ov  norov  €'n\€ro  rovro  ^iXowrdpfioto  liMgOWg^ 

o^vrarov  p^pdntaax  ^pO¥  t(6po¥'  dXXo^uif  M 

Koi  fUXiTO^  yXvK€poio  ^ptif  yXuK€puntpO¥  ^8m{P*  85 

ndrpiov  ov  irofia  toDto  Xox^vrrtu  ^A'Ms  iXattf 

XapoTcpov  5c  ydXoKTos  ^ic  irori^  ififuvit  aUl 

€rvp.4>€prals  Xipd^am  ^uXucpfigrvnf  KVtctutvof, 

€i  hk  TTOTov  p,€p67T€aaiv  d<(»^Jrair  im6  Kjfmom 

Ik  koXvkwv  ScSaaaiv  dytw  fuiom^)f§€f  *U^a4,        tO 

Kai  K€v  €ycj  koXUgkov  'A&um^ck  i|  KuStpihfi 

€lapiv6v  nofia  rovro ,  po^atv  tvoSfiom  idpaf/if, 

Xvainovov  Kai  (clvov  dytif  nord^'  ^plott  yAp 

TrAaJo/xcWs"  dvtfjLoioiv  c/xay  cVcSoaov  iupi§ums. 

pri  GOi  hwpov  tbo}K€v  d-n   al0€pos  a^ififorof  *H/^;  96 

firj  aoi  rovTo  Ko^iaat  Ttrj  noAMoOyof   Aftjn|; 

ovpavodev  KpyjTrjpa  ris  TJpnaa€v,  €¥$€¥  d/^iaoti 

878 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  68-97 

him  the  art  of  making  them  grow,  by  breaking  and 
ditching  and  curving  the  shoots  round  into  the  soil." 

^^  So  the  industrious  old  gardener  passed  on  to 
other  countrymen  the  gifts  of  Bromios  with  their 
vintage  of  grapes,  and  taught  them  how  to  plant  and 
care  for  the  viny  growth  of  Dionysos  ;  he  poured  into 
his  rustic  mixer  streams  of  wine  inexhaustible,  and 
cheered  the  hearts  of  banqueters  with  cup  after 
cup,  releasing  the  fragrant  liquid  from  his  wineskins. 
Many  a  one  would  compliment  Erigone's  father  with 
grateful  words  as  he  drank  the  sweet  liquor  of 
mind-awakening  wine  : 

'^  "  Tell  us,  gaffer,  how  you  found  on  earth  the 
nectar  of  Olympos  ?  This  golden  water  never  came 
from  Cephisos,  this  honeysweet  treasure  was  not 
brought  from  the  Naiads  !  For  our  fountains  do  not 
bubble  up  honey-streams  like  this,  the  river  Ilissos 
does  not  run  in  such  a  purple  flood.  This  is  no  drink 
from  the  plantloving  bee,  which  quickest  of  all  brings 
satiety  to  mortal  man.  This  is  another  kind  of  water, 
sweeter  than  sweet  honey  ;  this  is  no  national  draught 
born  from  the  Athenian  olive.  You  have  a  drink 
richer  than  milk  which  ever  keeps  its  taste,  mingled 
with  drops  of  honey-posset.  If  the  rosyarm  Seasons 
have  learnt  to  distil  a  drink  for  mortals  from  all  the 
flowercups  that  grow  in  our  gardens,  I  would  call 
this  a  spring-time  beverage  of  Adonis  or  Cythereia, 
the  sweetsmelling  dew  of  roses  !  A  strange  drink 
yours,  which  dissolves  trouble  !  for  it  has  scattered 
my  cares  wandering  in  the  winds  of  heaven. 

^^  "  Can  it  be  that  immortal  Hebe  has  given  you 
this  gift  from  heaven  ?  Can  it  be  that  Athena  your 
cityholder  has  provided  this  ?     Who  has  stolen  the 

^  Compare  note  on  xvii.  83. 

379 


NONN06 

Zrjvi  Koi  dSavdroiai  h4'naf  tctpaaat  Fan^i^&Tff; 
(eivoSoKov  KcAcoib  fKucdpr€p€,  fAti  on)  teoi  a:dr6t 
iXaov  ovpav66€v  vairr^v  (tiyuraaf  *OAa)yACOv;  !<» 

neidofiau,  co;  d€6s  oAAof  tKwfiaat  ouo  ^tMBpt^, 
KoX  ff>iXirfs  TTOfia  rovTO  rtift  5«a  ftflivvft  f]paWCi|f 
'Ar^tSi  twpov  fSoMccv,  arc  <rTrfj(K»  thnct  Ai^." 

*Aypov6fioi  5*  ofNioinYr  hnaavr^potm  icwA^oif 

ofifiara  5*  €VAa{ovro»  ^tAajr^ifroif  U  tfirvAAoic 
dpyv^  nopt^vpoyro  mi^ijta,  ytwyAmar  M 
(m;dca  Btpfiaivovro,  irorift  5*  ifiofiAmwo  it6p9^g       IM 
irat  <f>X4p€9  oi5au«opro9  iKvptaivomo  ira^i(MNr 
Toiai  5<  B€pKOfitvoiaw  ^atUro  tt^Xmot  ^poSffiit 

KoX  cnl>aX€pous  Aij3a5ca<nv  ai{^Of  jfi^AiOf  O&OV 

Koi  xopos  aypovopjutv  ^o%^  StiamifUvos  ourrpff 
rXi^fiovos  *Ifcapioto  Kartrp€Xi  Bmihi  Motrg, 
old  T€  <f>app.aK6€vru  KtpaaoofUmov  WW  o&oir« 
OS"  fiev  €x<*iv  /SoiwA^ya  ot^pcoi',  ^  M  §itutiXXg 
QoipTj^a^  €o  x<^?*  o  ^<  <TTaxvi7Td|4or  ipmjjif  1J0 

dXXo^  av^TTToiqTo  KtiXavpana  x^ipl  nromur, 
yrjpaXdov  TrATJaaoiTcy  cAoii'  8c  ny  ^yy^  ifida^Xrjv 
*lKaptov  rlrprivt  Btfia^  TafL€<nxpoi  tcdarrptp. 

Kat  fioycwv  xOovl  TrtTrrc  y4ptMȴ  ^foyy^  oAum  i 
rvTTTOfievos  pondXoiaw,  ivujKoipu^  tk  Tpaw4^ 
3S0 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  98-126 

mixing-bowl  from  the  sky,"  from  which  Ganymedes 
mixes  the  hquor  and  ladles  out  a  cup  for  Zeus  and 
the  immortals  ?  O  more  blessed  than  hospitable 
Celeos,  can  it  be  you  also  have  yourself  entertained 
some  gracious  Olympian  who  dwells  in  the  heavens  ? 
I  beheve  some  other  god  came  in  mirth  to  visit  your 
roof,  and  gave  this  drink  to  our  country  in  friendship 
for  your  hospitable  table,  as  Deo  gave  us  corn !  " 

^^  Thus  he  spoke,  admiring  the  dehcious  drink  ; 
and  from  his  hps  rang  out  a  stream  of  rustic  song 
in  sweet  madness. 

^^  So  the  countrymen  quaffed  cup  after  cup,  and 
made  a  wild  revel  over  the  wine  which  dazed  their 
wits.  Their  eyes  rolled,  their  pale  cheeks  grew  red — 
for  they  drank  their  liquor  neat,  their  peasant-breasts 
grew  hot,  their  heads  grew  heavy  with  the  drink,  the 
veins  were  swollen  upon  their  foreheads.  The  bosom 
of  the  earth  shook  before  their  eyes,  the  trees  danced 
and  the  mountains  skipt.  Men  fell  on  their  backs 
rolling  helplessly  over  the  ground,  full  of  the  un- 
familiar wine  with  its  slippery  drops. 

11^  Then  the  company  of  countrymen  driven  by 
murderous  infatuation  charged  upon  poor  Icarios  in 
maniac  fury,  as  if  the  wine  were  mixt  with  a  de- 
ceiving drug — one  holding  an  iron  poleaxe,  one  with 
a  shovel  for  a  weapon  in  his  hands,  one  holding  the 
cornreaping  sickle,  another  raising  an  immense  block 
of  stone,  while  another,  beside  himself,  brandished 
a  cudgel  in  his  hand — all  striking  the  old  man  :  one 
came  near  with  a  goad  and  pierced  his  body  with 
its  fleshcutting  spike. 

125  The  unhappy  old  industrious  gardener  thus 
beaten  with  blows  fell  to  the  ground,  then  leaping 

°  The  constellation  Crater. 

381 


NONNOS 

Tvtl/€  fJi49r)^  KpTfrfjpa,  Kal  aWonof  <tV  x'^^  otvov 
rjfiidavrjs  KCKvXicrro'  PapwofUvov  hi  KOfrqvou 
dypovoficjv  TrXrjyfJGiv  dfLOipair)<n  rvn^vros 
alfiaXdrj  <l>OLyL(€V  ofioxpoov  olyov  iipar).  130 

KoX  fjLoyis  €K  arofidrcjv  €iroi  ^XV  'AiSi  ytlriMW 

"  Otvo9  €fiov  Bpofjuou,  Pfior^  dfimwiMa  fi€pifanj9, 
6  yXvKvs  €19  €fi€  fioOvov  ofulXixof'  c^^pocrvviTK  yap 
dvbpdai  TTaaiv  onaaatt  iroi  *I«rapi^  v6fM  noTfiov 
6  yXvKV9  *Hpiy6yf)  iroAcfcifiOf*  ^utr^fnjv  yap  lt6 

vrfTTtvOrfs  AiojoHTOj  c^icaro  mvOiiia  Kovpriv'* 

Ov  TTO)  pLv$o9  tXrjyt'  fiopog  h4  ol  HBaO€  ^xn'^v. 
KoX  v€KVS  avToSi  Ktiro,  oao^poviK  hcruBt  tcovprji, 
ofip,aai  7r€irrapUvoiaiv,    iv  darpainp  5^  ^^oficvK^ 
vi^bvfiov  VTTvov  tavov  vnip  San^hoiO  ^tMFrf€f  140 

olvoPap€is,  v€KV€aai¥  coixorc; *  ^p^fiCMH  W, 
ov  Krdvov  dyvwaao%n€9,  oW<rrcv«w  Ht66i  h*  oi/utfr 
v€Kp6v  €Xatf>piiovr€9  dyrjiyayov  tU  p^X^  uAiyj 

€fJuf>pOVa    dvfJLOV    €\OVT€9t    ^   €VvSp<p    hi    ptiBptf^ 

wr€iXds  €Kd$T]pav  6p€aaixvTtp  irapd  WTfyj'  l*^ 

Kal  v€Kw  diprihducrov,  ov  ttcroimf  o^jpOM  Xvaajj, 
dvSpo<f>6vois  TTaXdpjfaiv  ervpifitvaayro  ^oyfJ€9. 

^v)(ri  3*  *lKapioio  7rav€U(€Xat  ioovro  Kairvw 
€19  h6iJX)v  *}\piy6vrj9'  Ppor^  8*  ladj^ero  piop^ 

KOV<f>OV   OV€ip€irj9   aKl€pfJ9    €tBwX0V   OTTCUTT^,  IfiO 

dvhpl  V€oxrr7jra}  navopx)uo9,  dx*  hi  SciA^ 
CTTiKTov  d<rqpAvTou>  ^vov  Ki^pvfca  xiTwva, 
aXpxLTi  <j>oi.vUyaovra  koX  avxpLwovra  tcovijj, 
poryaXiov  nXr^yfjoLV  dpLoipaioio  at^-qpov. 

KoX    TTdXdpXLS    Wp€^€'    V€OOffx^y€WV   &€    hoK€V€lV  166 

COTClAds   pL€X€(x)V   cVcScWCVU*    y€iTOVi   KOVpJJ, 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  127-156 

upon  the  table  upset  the  mixing-bowl  and  rolled 
half-dead  in  the  flood  of  ruddy  wine  :  his  head  sank 
under  the  shower  of  blows  from  the  countrymen, 
and  drops  of  his  red  blood  mingled  with  the  red 
wine.  Now  next-door  to  death  he  stammered  out 
these  words  : 

132  "  'pjjg  wine  of  my  Bromios,  the  comfort  of 
human  care,  that  sweet  one  is  pitiless  against  me 
alone  !  It  has  given  a  merry  heart  to  all  men,  and 
it  has  brought  fate  to  Icarios.  The  sweet  one  is  no 
friend  to  Erigone,  for  Dionysos  who  mourns  not  has 
made  my  girl  to  mourn." 

^^■^  Before  he  could  finish  his  words,  fate  came  first 
and  stayed  his  voice  :  there  he  lay  dead  with  eyes 
wide  open,  far  from  his  modest  daughter.  His 
murderers  heavy  with  wine  slumbered  careless  on 
the  bare  ground  like  dead  men.  When  they  awoke, 
they  mourned  aloud  for  him  they  had  unwittingly 
slain,  and  in  their  right  mind  now  they  carried  his 
body  on  their  shoulders  up  to  a  woody  ridge,  and 
washed  his  wounds  in  the  abundant  waters  of  a 
mountain  brook.  So  they  who  had  slain  buried 
him  they  had  slain  in  their  senseless  fury,  the  same 
murderous  hands  buried  the  body  which  they  had 
lately  torn. 

1*^  The  soul  of  Icarios  floated  like  smoke  to  the 
room  of  Erigone.  It  was  a  light  phantom  in  mortal 
shape,  the  shadowy  vision  of  a  dream,  like  a  man 
newly  slain  ;  the  wretched  ghost  wore  a  tunic  with 
marks  that  betrayed  the  unexplained  murder,  red 
with  blood  and  dirty  with  dust,  torn  to  rags  by 
blows  on  blows  of  beating  steel.  The  phantom 
stretched  out  its  hands  and  came  close  to  the  girl, 
and  pointed  out  the  wounds  on  the  newly  mangled 

383 


NONNOS 

Trapdcvucri  8*  oX6Xv(€  <f>*Xo$pijvoi£  iv  ^iptHS, 

6t»y  th€v  eX#c€a  roaaa  KOprfaro^,  o>t  2Sc  htiX^ 

Xvdpov  €p€v6ofi€voio  vtoppvTov  ovBtptomK' 

#cai  GKi6€is  y€V€'rn^  €7ros  civcirc  «oM8(  Kovpffj'      160 

€yp€o,  Kal  pedvoyra^  €povi  paaT€V€  ^crfjas* 

€Lpi   T€09   yCFCTT^f   fiapVwhwO^,   OV  XOipiV   OiVOV 

dypoyopoi  ^anXrjrts  €&r)Xijoa»rro  <n&i^ptp, 

cu  TiKos,  oXpi^ui  a€'  av  yap  KTOfUvow  rotcrjos  165 

OV  Kavaxrjv  rJKovaa^  dpaaaofLiifOio  Kopnvwft 

OV  7roXir)v  €v6rjaag  tp€vBoiLhmif  vno  XuQptftt 

OV  viKvv  apTiSaucrov  iirurmkipoma  tntftjn, 

naTpo<l>6vovs  Kopwa^  o^  ISpcurcf  *  dXXi  at  haUuMHif 

€KTodi  naroo^  €pvKt,  rt^  o*  ^^tUo^cv  ifarwip,      170 

/ii^  popov  aBprp€i€  hailopivfjv  ytvtrrjpo^, 

alpari  irop^ftvpovra^  ipov^  OKoniaJ^t  ;(iruii*ay 

Y^i^d  yap  oivw6€VT€^  auoifiaioun  KVtr^XXoig 

aypovopoL  pXv^ovT€^  di^tof  ucftaha  Sdxxov 

dpAf>*  €p€  KVKXuHiavro'  Soi^Oficvo;  hk  aihript^  17ft 

prjXovopovs  €KdX€aaa,  koI  ovtc  rjtcouaav  lutiw' 

pOVVr)    5'    V<TT€p6if>WVOS   ipO¥   tCTVTTOW  €kX»KV      Hx<^ 

Bprivois  dvnrvTTOuji  rtoy  aTtvdxQvaa  roKrja. 
ovK€Ti  Kov<l)i^ovaa  KoXavpOTra  fuaa6$€¥  vXt)^ 
€19  vopov  dv6€p6€VTa  Koi  €if  Xtipwva^  ucdv€i9,        ISO 
G7)v  dy€Xr)v  ^ooKovaa  avv  dypavXip^  impaxoirji' 
ovK€Ti  SevhpoKopoio  Tcfj^  ijfavovoa  pLOK^Xkrfs 

KTJTTOV    €S    CVCuSll'a    <f>€p€i9   dpOpl^V   uSojp* 

oAAd  pcXippaddpiyyo^  ^h'H^  djcoprfrof  anwprf^ 

KXaU  T€6v  y€V€rrjv  p€  Sf&oimora*  Koi  <T€  vorfow      16^ 

6p(f>avi,icqv  ^(oovcrav  dnciprjTTjv  vp€valutv." 

^  So  MS:). :  Ludwtch  dypmOMb 

884 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  157-186 

limbs  for  her  to  see.  The  maiden  shrieked  in  this 
melancholy  dream,  when  she  saw  so  many  wounds 
on  that  head,  when  the  poor  thing  saw  the  blood 
which  had  lately  pom-ed  from  that  red  throat.  And 
the  shade  of  her  father  spoke  these  words  to  his 
sorrowing  child  : 

161  •*  Wake,  poor  creature,  go  and  seek  your  father  ! 
Wake,  and  search  for  my  drunken  murderers  !  I  am 
your  much-afflicted  father,  whom  the  savage  country 
folk  have  destroyed  because  of  wine  with  cold  steel. 
I  call  you  happy,  my  child  ;  your  father  was  killed, 
but  you  heard  not  the  smashing  of  my  beaten  head, 
you  saw  not  the  hoary  hair  stained  with  gore,  the 
body  new-mangled  panting  on  the  ground,  you 
saw  not  the  clubs  that  killed  your  father.  No :  Pro- 
vidence kept  you  far  away  from  your  father,  and 
guarded  your  eyes  that  they  might  not  see  the  death 
of  a  murdered  sire.  Look  at  my  clothes,  red  with 
blood !  For  yesterday  country  people  drunken  with 
cup  after  cup  of  wine  and  dribbling  the  unfamiliar 
juice  of  Bacchos,  thronged  about  me.  As  the  steel 
tore  me,  I  called  on  the  shepherds,  and  they  heard 
not  my  voice  :  only  Echo  heard  the  noise  of  me  and 
followed  with  answering  tones,  and  mourned  your 
father  with  a  copy  of  my  lamentable  words.  Never 
now  wdll  you  lift  your  crook  in  the  midst  of  the  wood- 
lands and  go  to  the  meadows  and  flowery  pasture 
along  with  a  rustic  husband,  feeding  your  flock ; 
never  will  you  handle  your  hoe  to  work  about  the 
trees  and  bring  water  along  the  channels  to  make 
the  garden  grow.  Yet  be  not  too  greedy  \vith  my 
honeydripping  fruit,  but  weep  for  me  your  father  low 
fallen  in  death.  I  shall  see  you  living  as  an  orphan 
and  knowing  nothing  of  marriage." 

VOL.  Ill  *  2  c  385 


NONNOS 

*Q9  if>afi€vri  nr€p6€aaa  iropfSpo^MV  &ln9  ^Ipov, 
Kovprj  8*  iyoofUvrj  poSta^  ^M^<  ««y<Miy, 

#cai  hoXixfjs  npoO^vfiyov  aviawun  pirptm  iBtiffrf^'  190 
Kai  P6as  dOpTjGaaa  napurrofUvovs  h%  nh'pfH 
napdivos  dxwfUvT)  Kiwpfj  fipvx^oaro  ^OM^* 

"  n^  v€Kvs  *\tcapioiO,  ^tAoi  ^kd/y(acH9c  tcoXofvai- 
TTOTfiov  €pov  Y^vtrrjpo^  €$i^fioy€t  ciirarf  ravpoi- 
narpos  tp-ov  icrap€voio  TU^f  ycyocun  ^otnJ€9;  196 

irfj  puoi,  €p6s  y€V€Ti/5  yAi;ici>9  oixcnu; 

ytirova  KoAAi^imuo  iVovr  ^l|pvi|icac  imttfm 
TrAa^cTOi  aypoK>/i04a&  in^nffMMV,  i|  riM  po&rQ 
h^vhpoKopot  nap€pxpv€  Qwiartof  ttXatmmU^tMM^ ; 
ciTrarc  p,vpop€vrit  Koi  rkrjoopai,  cunMccv  cA^.  100 

ei  /x€v  ert  {tuci  ycvrriK  </io$*  c^a  mi/woo 
apBevGU)  traXivopaos  ofia  (cuouoa  roir^* 
€1  Sc  TTa-rqp  r(BvrjK€  kcu  ovtcin  MSpa  ^vnvn, 
dOpTiao)  popov  laov  iirl  ^i^Uvt^  Y^vtrrjpi.*' 

*Qy    <f>ap€inrj 

raxvyowos  aWSpaficv  cfc  P^XW  *^^*    '^ 
t;(vta  paoT^vovaa  v€oa^y€Of  ycvcr^poy. 
oi)  3€  oi  €lpop€vrf  dpaavs  alnoXos,  ov  irapa  Aox/ioif 
Trapdevov  olicT^ipwv  dytXr^Kopof  €W€n€  Pourfff 
i^tov  darrfpiKrov  djcrjpvKToto  rotcrjo^, 
ov  v€Kvv  ^iKapioio  y€piov  C7rc5cu(wc  iroifi^'  210 

oAAd  pdrrjv  oAclAt^to*  ftoyi;  S<  fuy  €^/>cv  oAo^cvf 
#cat  KLwpols  crropdr€aai  Svaayy€Xo¥  lax*  ^<^*^i 
Kal  Td<t>ov  iyyvs  eScifc  ytoSprjroiO  rotcfjof. 

HapdevLtcq  h*  dlovaa  aad<f>povt  puiwtro  Awwrjy 
Kal  irXoKapxivs  riXXovaa  <f>iXoj  napajcdrBero  rvpfiw  219 
TTapdevos  dKpT]b€p,ros  dadp^aXos,  avrox^TOis  ^ 
386 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  187-216 

^®''  So  spoke  the  vision  of  the  dream,  and  then 
flew  away.  But  the  girl  awaking  tore  her  rose-red 
cheeks,  and  mourning  scored  her  firm  breasts  with 
her  finger-nails,  and  tore  long  locks  of  hair  from  the 
roots  ;  then  seeing  the  cattle  still  standing  by  her 
on  the  rock,  the  sorrowful  maiden  cried  in  a  voice 
of  lamentation  : 

193  "  Where  is  the  body  of  Icarios  ?  Tell  me,  be- 
loved hills  !  Tell  me  my  father's  fate,  ye  bulls  that 
knew  him  well !  Who  were  the  murderers  of  my 
father  slain  ?  Where  has  my  darling  father  gone  ?  Is 
he  wandering  over  the  countryside,  staying  with  the 
countrymen  and  teaching  a  neighbour  to  plant  the 
young  shoots  of  his  fair  vintage,  or  is  he  the  guest 
of  some  pastoral  gardener  and  sharing  his  feast  ? 
Tell  his  mourning  daughter,  and  I  will  endure  till  he 
come.  If  my  father  is  still  alive,  I  will  live  with  my 
parent  again  and  water  the  plants  of  his  garden :  bui 
if  my  father  is  dead  and  plants  trees  no  more,  I  will 
face  death  like  his  over  his  dead  body." 

2^^  So  she  spoke,  and  ran  with  swift  knee  up  into 
the  mountain  forest,  seeking  the  tracks  of  her  father 
newly  slain.  But  to  her  questions  no  goatherd  was 
bold  to  reply,  no  herdsman  of  cattle  in  the  woodlands 
pitied  the  maiden  or  pointed  to  a  faint  trace  of  her 
father  still  unheard-of,  no  ancient  shepherd  showed 
her  the  body  of  Icarios,  but  she  wandered  in  vain. 
At  last  a  gardener  found  her  and  told  the  sad  news 
in  a  sorrowful  voice,  and  showed  the  tomb  to  her 
father  lately  slain. 

214  When  the  maiden  heard  it,  she  was  distracted 
but  with  sober  madness  :  she  plucked  the  hair  from 
her  head  and  laid  it  upon  the  beloved  tomb,  a  maiden 
unveiled,  unshod,  drenching  her  clothes  with  selfshed 

387 


NONNOS 

baKpvaw  a€vdoiai  X€Xovfitvov  cfx*  x^rtami, 

KW^rjS^  yoowvTi  cnWorc^^c  itf^S6hi  Kovan,  fg^ 

KaL  ol  oSvpofuvrj  avi'oSvprro,    fjuuvofidrn  M 

ayx<'^^  <r<f>iy(aaa  ntpinXoKov  ai})^«^  ScoyiAi 
avTO<f>6va}  <rroo<f>6Xiyyt  furapatof  wXtro  Kovpifi,       tU 
dfjufxyrtpovs  oovtovoa  no5a(  firjT^pitavt  «oA|l4>*        tl6 
icai  Bdv€.,  Kox  yMfMV  tlxfv  iKo6a%air 

i^M  hk  tcovpnrjv      216 
irvKvd  Kvwv  S€b6vrfro,  Koi  Save  nMi(ia¥  i}x^  2t7 

Sfifiaat.  9r)p€ioiai  vorffiova  Sofcpua  XiiBtmf, 

Ovhk  KVWV  d^vXoKTOv  ^pmfidSa  KiiXXun  tcovfnjv, 
aXXd  <f>irrat  nap€fiifiv€V  iin^JAuSa  Bfjpa  ^iw$caf¥,        290 
nopSaXiv  r)€  AcoiTa-  7rap€pxofUvoun  S*  Mrat^ 


v€Vfiaaiv  d^oyyoi?  cVcdcurvucr  d^vya  «(0^jpi|r 
hcafioZs  dyxovioioi  ntpinXoKO¥  ^iftiOi  Unoov. 
ol  Be  fjiiv  oucTtipoiTcy  ovi^cov  ciy  ^vr^  vArf^ 
txy€Giv  oLKpordToiaiv,  dn*  evntrdXutv  W  tcopvfifiojv  235 
TrapdevLKTjv  dSfxrjra  Kan/yayov  dy^^t^ov^  8< 
yatav  iKoiXaivovro  TrcSoaira^cotn  uuuc^XXaus, 
roL9  d/xa  *cat  it€tt6vtjto  Kvutv  nunrro^povt  Svfup, 
nevOa^eo)  8*  i^dBwe  nehov  Tfx>^fM>w  rapatft, 
dr^yaXeois  ovvxeaai,  XV^  x^W  dicpo  X!^H^^^^*  ^^ 
Kat  VcVuV  d/>Tl8dt*CTO>'  €7r€KT€p4i(ay  oSiTOi* 
#cat  fw^s"  fiedcnwv  imoKdpBiov  oyKOV  dyiij^ 
€19  €ov  €pyov  cKaoTOS"  dv€6pa^i€v  of €4  Topaw' 
avrdp  6  fjLouvog  €fiifjLV€  kvwv  irapd  yeirovt  rvpfiw 
*Hpiy6vr)g  \rn    c/xori,  ^cAtJ/io!'!  6'  ciiAoAc  noTfJUp.      245 

Zcus"  Sc  TTaTrjp  cAcatpcv  ev  darepoevn  8c  kvicAoi 
'Hpiydnyv  ar^pi(€  Acoitcu^  iropd  Ktrr^* 
388 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  217-247 

showers  of  ever-flowing  tears.  Speechless  for  a  time, 
Erigone  kept  her  lips  sealed  with  silence  ;  the  dog 
the  companion  of  Erigone  shared  her  feelings,  he 
whimpered  and  howled  by  the  side  of  his  mourning 
mistress,  sorrowing  with  her  sorrow.  Wildly  she  ran 
up  to  a  tall  tree  :  she  tied  upon  it  a  rope  with  a 
noose  fast  about  her  neck  and  hung  herself  high  in 
the  air,  twisting  in  self-sought  agonies  with  her  two 
twitching  feet.  So  she  died,  and  had  a  willing  fate ; 
her  dog  ran  round  and  round  the  girl  with  sorrowful 
howls,  a  dumb  animal  dropping  tears  of  sympathy 
from  his  eyes. 

^^  The  dog  would  not  leave  his  mistress  alone, 
unguarded,  but  there  he  stayed  by  the  tree,  and 
chased  off  the  preying  beasts,  panther  or  lion. 
Then  wayfarers  passed,  and  he  showed  with  mute 
gestures  the  unwedded  maid  hanging  in  the  tree 
with  a  noose  about  her  neck.  Full  of  pity  they  came 
up  to  the  tree  on  tiptoe,  and  took  down  the  chaste 
maiden  from  the  leafy  branches  ;  then  hollowed  a 
grave  close  by  with  earthdigging  shovels.  The  sor- 
rowing dog  knew  what  they  did,  and  helped  them, 
scratching  and  scattering  the  surface  of  the  soil  with 
sharp  claws  and  grubbing  with  clever  feet.  So  the 
wayfarers  buried  the  body  but  lately  dead,  and  they 
went  away  on  their  business  quickfoot  with  a  weight 
of  sorrow  under  their  hearts  one  and  all.  But  the 
dog  remained  near  the  tomb  alone,  for  love  of 
Erigone,  and  there  he  died  of  his  own  free  will. 

246  Father  Zeus  had  pity,  and  he  placed  Erigone 
in  the  company  of  the  stars  near  the  Lion's  back. 

389 


NONNOS 

napOcviKrj  8'  aypavXcK  c^ci  araxuv'  oi  yap  atip€W 
rjdcXev  oii'orra  porpuv  iov  y€v4rao  ^vija, 
*lKdpiov  8«  ytpovra  mn^AuSa  ytlrovi  Ka^Sf/JH  *^ 

€19  "noXov  aaT€p6<f>oirov  dytav  oyofirjvt  Boc&np 
^HiiSpov,  *Afia(airj^  lnai^iuvo¥  *AptedSo9  'A/mttou* 
Kol  Kvva  fiapfixxipotrra  Karatdoovra  Aaywov 
efinvpov  doTpov  iBr^Ktv,  Snj)  mpl  ic6kXov  'OAu/xirou 
ITOVTW  dartpotvTi.  rvm^  vavrlXXtrai  *Apya>.  **^ 

Kai  rd  fJL€v  (irXaat  fivSoi  *Axqukos  'ffid&a  vttBw 
i/t€vB€i  <wyK€pdaas-  to  S*  in^rvfLo^,  ^^n^Mom  21fi)9 
f/rvx^v  *Hpiy6yf)^  <7ra;(Ucu$€Of  dar4pi  Kovffffi 
ovpavli)^  cVcVct/icv  o/io{i/yov,  aWtpiov  hi 
dy\i  Kui'o?  KVva  $rJK€V  ofiouov  ciS<i  fiop^ijf,  M> 

Jl€ipiov,  6v  KoXiovaiv  6iratpiv6v,  ^Itcaplou  hi 
fpvxTfv  ri€p6<f>oirov  cVcfvKiMrc  Bocurjy. 
Kai  rd  fiiv  olvo<ftVTat  KpovQufi  w6p€¥  *AldShi  yoljj, 
€v  yepag  ct^rtnxtii'  khI  TicLXXdSi  Kol  Aion^^. 

*IAiaaou  5c  p€(dpa  fuXlppvra  IkUryo;  idaa^         ttS 
dPp69  €9  a/iTTcAocaaov  ^Kutfioatv  dyrvya  Ndfav 
dpxftl  5c  ftiv  nrtpd  ttcxAAcv  ''E^xc^;  Bpaavs, 

ipX'^lUvov  hi 
fJLcXXoydfiov  Kv6€p€ia  irponrjytyMvtxK  Avatov. 
dpTL  ydp  VTTVcjovaav  in*  alytaXoiaw  idaa^ 
irapdevLtcqv  XinonaTpiv  dp.€CXix<H  €trXi€  0i/a*^>,       -;T0 
aifvOeaias  8'  dvcfioiaiv  cVcVpcTrcv.     vrrvaXlrjv  hi 
dBpriaas  Aion^ao?  €prjp,ai-qy  *ApiahKfiv 

*  He  turned  into  Canis  Minor,  not  Sirius. 

*  That  the  souLs  of  the  dead  can  turn  into  start  b  m  doctrine 
as  old  at  lea^t  as  Aristophanes  {P*ae$  832),  and  Nonoos  usr* 
it  to  reconcile  two  divergent  s<>t<i  of  star-myths. 

*  Theseus,  son  of  Aigeus  king  of  Athm,  had  fone  to 
890 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  248-272 

The  rustic  maid  holds  an  ear  of  corn  ;  for  she  did  not 
wish  to  carry  the  red  grapes  which  had  been  her 
father's  death.  And  Zeus  brought  old  Icarios  into 
the  starspangled  sky  to  move  beside  his  daughter, 
and  called  him  Bootes,  the  Plowman,  shining  bright, 
and  touching  the  Wain  of  the  Arcadian  Bear.  The 
Dog  he  made  also  a  fiery  constellation  "  chasing  the 
Hare,  in  that  part  where  the  starry  image  of  sea- 
faring Argo  voyages  round  the  circle  of  Olympos. 

2^^  Such  is  the  fiction  of  the  Achaian  story,  mingling 
as  usual  persuasion  with  falsehood  :  but  the  truth 
is  :  Zeus  our  Lord  on  high  joined  the  soul  of  Erigone 
with  the  star  of  the  heavenly  Virgin  holding  an  ear 
of  corn,  and  near  the  heavenly  Dog  he  placed  a  dog 
hke  him  in  shape,  Seirios  of  the  autumn  as  they 
call  him,  and  the  soul  of  Icarios  he  combined  with 
Bootes  in  the  heavens.^  These  are  the  gifts  of 
Cronides  to  the  vinelands  of  Attica,  offering  one 
honour  to  Pallas  and  Dionysos  together. 

265  Now  Bacchos  left  the  honeyflowing  streams  of 
Ilissos,  and  went  in  dainty  revel  to  the  vineclad  district 
of  Naxos.  About  him  bold  Eros  beat  his  wings,  and 
Cythereia  led,  before  the  coming  of  Lyaios  the  bride- 
groom. For  Theseus  had  just  sailed  away,  and  left 
without  pity  the  banished  maiden  asleep  on  the  shore, 
scattering  his  promises  to  the  winds."  When  Dionysos 
beheld  deserted  Ariadne  sleeping,  he  mingled  love 

Crete  as  one  of  the  human  victims  for  the  Minotaur.  With 
the  help  of  Ariadne,  daughter  of  Minos  king  of  Cnossos,  he 
overcame  it  and  then  sailed  away,  taking  Ariadne  with  him. 
Here  the  story  in  all  surviving  accounts  is  defective,  but 
parallel  stories  from  elsewhere  in  Europe  make  it  clear  that 
he  did  something  magically  wrong  and  so  fell  into  a 
supernatural  forgetfulness  of  her  (c/.  Theocritos  ii.  37-41). 
Therefore  he  left  her  asleep  on  Naxos. 

891 


NONNOS 

Oavfiari  fjui€v  cpo/ro-  ypp<mXt9c4€oai  hk  B^iQfaAr 
yXtoacTQ  SafipaX^  'n«f>vXaYfidvw  JWnrc  iMo¥' 
"  BaaGapCS€^,  ^itj  parrrpa  rwdfart, 

/i^  ttr vwot  ioTw     175 
rj  TToSoy  rj  avpiyyo^'  <aaoTt  Kvwpw  latkw 
oAA*  ou  K€<rr6v  cxci  <rqfuurropa  KimpoycM^. 

oAA*  cVct  opBpo^  tXofu^  Kol  4yy^  ^aipmu  *Hctff , 
riaai^ri;!'  ci>Souaav  iytlpart'  rif  napa  Sd((p,         ISO 

aXXa  B€7ra^  fiaxapofv  rivi  tcaXXitrt ;    fiii  wap^  v6yrip 
ireVAiTOi  aiyX-qtaaa  fioutv  iXdrtipa  ScAijn^; 
#cai  n6d€v  'EvSv/AUtfito;  ^^^ijfiOMX  ^jcto;  Murt; 
/x^  0€TU'  d/>yvp<>7r€{ai'  /w*  cuyioAoMn  hoKtwa;         186 
oAA*  ou  yv/xvoi'  c^ci  poh6€v  S^fAaf.    Ci  ^<'fU9  ciirctK, 
Neif las'  toxtaipo.  novtov  a/iiravcr(u  aypftff, 
0r)po<f>6i'ovs  tS/Kimiy  arroa/i TfCaaa  daAif<r(7^' 
riKT€i  yap  yXvKvv  vnvov  d*»  trcJ^o^"  oAA'  Aa  XoxfiJJ 
'ApTCfitv  €\K€x^TOjya  TiV  €hpaM€ ;    fufivm,  Bokxcu-  90 
arrjdi,  Mdpwv  firj  btvpo  xop€V<mT€'  Xrjyt  Xiyaivutv, 
Tlav  ^(Ac,  /X19  aiccSaaccas*  cumov  viivoy  *A^i}n|;* 
#cai  TtVi  OoAAa?  e^ciTTcv  coi'  Sdpv;    jou  tiV  ocipci 
XaXKeirjv  rpwfxiXciav  tf  atytSa  TpcToyn^iiyy ;  " 

Tola  fi€v  €W€7T€  BaK^oj"  owo  ^fi46oto  &€  5ccA^  »6 
VTTvov  aiTooK^haaaGa  hvolputpo^  eypcro  Kovprj, 
Kai  aroXov  ovk  €v6rja€  Koi  ov  woatv  rfrnpairifa' 
oAAd  aifv  dXKv6v€aai  Kt^Soit^tas*  €<rr€V€  vvpj^ 
ijtovas  fJLcOiTTovoa,  Papv^pofiov  €Syov  *Eparrciiv* 
i}i^€ov  8*  6v6^rjv€v  c/iaiWro  8*  4yyv$i  irovrov  300 

oAicaSa  Bi^ofievrj'  4>6ov€pC>  8'  cTrc/iijviev  tmv«^, 
892 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  27S-301 

with  wonder,  and  spoke  out  his  admiration  cautiously 
to  the  danceweaving  Bacchants  : 

275  '*  Bassarids,  shake  not  your  tambours,  let  there 
be  no  sound  of  pipes  or  feet.  Let  Cypris  rest  ! — But 
she  has  not  the  cestus  which  marks  the  Cyprian.  I 
believe  it  is  the  Grace  that  wedded  Hypnos,  cunning 
creature  ! "  But  since  dawn  is  bright  and  morning 
seems  near,  awaken  sleeping  Pasithea.  But  who  has 
given  a  dress  to  the  naked  Grace  in  Naxos,  who  ?  Is 
it  Hebe  ?  But  to  whom  has  she  left  the  goblet  of  the 
Blessed  ?  Can  this  be  Selene,  that  bright  driver  of 
cattle,  lying  on  the  seashore  ?  Then  how  can  she  be 
sleeping  apart  from  her  inseparable  Endymion  ?  Is  it 
silverfoot  Thetis  I  see  on  the  strand  ?  No,  it  is  not 
naked,  that  rosy  form.  If  I  may  dare  to  say  so,  it 
is  the  Archeress  resting  here  in  Naxos  from  her 
labours  of  the  hunt,  now  she  has  wiped  off  in  the 
sea  the  sweat  of  hunting  and  slaying.  For  hard 
work  always  brings  sweet  sleep.  But  who  has  seen 
Artemis  in  the  woods  in  long  robes  ?  Stay,  Bacchants 
— stand  still,  Maron — dance  not  this  way,  stop  sing- 
ing, dear  Pan,  that  you  may  not  disturb  the  morning 
sleep  of  Athena.  No — with  whom  did  Pallas  leave 
her  spear  ?  and  who  bears  the  bronze  helmet  or  aegis 
of  Tritogeneia  ?  " 

^^  So  cried  Bacchos — Sleep  flew  away,  the  poor 
lovelorn  girl  scattered  sleep,  awoke  and  rose  from 
the  sand,  and  she  saw  no  fleet,  no  husband — 
the  deceiver  !  But  the  Cydonian  ^  maiden  lamented 
with  the  kingfishers,  and  paced  the  heavy  murmur- 
ing shore  which  was  all  that  the  Loves  had  given  her. 
She  called  on  the  young  man's  name,  madly  she 
sought  his    vessel   along   the   seaside,   scolded   the 

«  See  Horn.  11.  xiv.  270-276.  *  Cretan. 

39S 


NONNOS 

Kal  Uatfiir)^  iroXit  fidXXov  i^U^n^rro  fiffrpl  BaXaatrr)' 
Koi  l^phiv  uc€r€V€,  Hcu  opKiov  cfircv  ar/TW, 

Kovpov  dyoi, 

yXvK€pr)V   5^    TO   h€VT€pO¥   SKiMa  MafTQ'       SOI 

AloXov  jJT€€  fiaXXov  dOtXy^a'  XufOOiUtFfi  M 
TTcWtTo  Kol  Kar4vtwJ€,  kqX  dyruUXnf6o¥  aif[Trj¥ 
nffjupcv,  Iva  7rv€VO€i€'  nodoPXi^TOiO  8j  tafvp^ff 
ov  hop€Tji  aA<yi{c  hvai^upoi'  oAAa  kqX  airnX 
napdevitcfj  Kortovro  rd)rti  ^rMftai^s  o^jpoi*  SIQ 

cu  TOTC  vrja  xofuaaav  49  ^KrSlha,    wapBwuc^  hk 
avro^  'Epu}^  6dfifirf<nv,  tt«<i^ifiy  5*  m  N4f9* 
€U7t5€€iF  i^tcr^tv  6bvpOfA4vff¥  *h^pMffff' 
i^v  5c  <^€ivortpff  Koi  iv  dXytai,  teal  itm  ienff 
axirvfi€V7)v  Kdofirj<T€'  fcunfpofUyji  8*  *ApMifp  '** 

cifca^ev  ciV  Kpiaiv  ^Ka  ^cAo^ifMi^^  'A^kpomn; 
t/icpocv  ycAooxra,  iccu  tuca0€v  Sfijiara  tl€%9o0s 
Kal  Xa/xrcui"  Kat  'Hpcuro;  fmWwTa  hdxown  tcoiSpfff, 
o^k  8c  Saicpvocaaa  roaifv  i^iyiaro  ^atv^' 
**  nWoj  c/ioi  yAuKvy  iJA^cv, 

CC4/9  yAuirvf  <?X*^t>  SiyofiJff*     MO 
at^c  /x€  r€pTTop.€vrjv^  cti  iraAAiVCK*  inrroAi^  3^ 
KcicpoTTtr/v  cVoTyaa,  icai  €v^odi  Stfodof  auXijs 
dppog  eqv  vficvaios  dciSo/iOTT^  'AfNoSin^ 
#f(u  x^pos",  rip.€T€pr)  b*  €n€K6afA€€  TCfwrojfWvTj  x^V 
elaptvoL^  neraXoun  r€$r)X6ra  /Soifiov  *Epcim«iv*  Jt6 

#c<u  ydfiiov  ar€<f>o^  clxov  cqv  h4  fUH  iyyvBi  ^rfa€V9 
etfJLoai,  w/x^*8ioiai  ^in/TroAcoiv  *A^p€)Strjj. 
cj fjLOi,  iToiov  ovcLpov  iBov  yXvKW'  dXXd  fu  ^vya9¥ 
WX^TO  KoXXeu/fa^  cri  TrapSevov  iXadi,  UtidtiJ' 
ravrd  fioi  dxXv6€aaa  yap.o<rr6Xo^  amcurcv  op^n/j,    330 

^  So  MS5. :  Ludwicfa  i^injiAupiAiyi. 
S94 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  302-S30 

envious  sleep,  reproached  even  more  the  Paphian's 
mother,  the  sea  ;  she  prayed  to  Boreas  and  adjured 
the  wind,  adjured  Oreithyia  to  bring  back  the  boy 
to  the  land  of  Naxos  and  to  let  her  see  that  sweet 
ship  again.  She  besought  hardhearted  Aiolos  yet 
more  ;  he  heard  her  prayer  and  obeyed,  sending  a 
contrary  wind  to  blow,  but  Boreas  lovelorn  himself 
cared  nothing  for  the  maid  stricken  with  desire — 
yes,  even  the  breezes  themselves  must  have  had  a 
spite  against  the  maiden  when  they  carried  the  ship 
to  the  Athenian  land.  Eros  himself  admired  the 
maiden,  and  thought  he  saw  Aphrodite  lamenting 
in  Naxos  where  all  is  joy.  She  was  even  more  re- 
splendent in  her  grief,  and  pain  was  a  grace  to  the 
sorrower.  Compare  the  two,  and  Aphrodite  gently 
smiling  and  laughing  with  love  must  give  place  to 
Ariadne  in  sorrow,  the  delectable  eyes  of  Peitho 
or  the  Graces  or  Love  himself  must  yield  to  the 
maiden's  tears.  At  last  in  her  tears  she  found  voice 
to  speak  thus  : 

320  "  Sweet  sleep  came  to  me,  when  sweet  Theseus 
left  me.  Would  that  I  had  been  still  happy  when  he 
left  me  !  But  in  my  sleep  I  saw  the  land  of  Cecrops  ; 
in  the  palace  of  Theseus  was  a  splendid  wedding  and 
dance  with  songs  for  Ariadne,  and  my  happy  hand 
was  adorning  the  Loves'  blooming  altar  with  luxuriant 
spring  flowers.  And  I  wore  a  bridal  wreath  ;  Theseus 
was  beside  me  in  wedding  garments,  sacrificing  to 
Aphrodite.  Alas,  what  a  sweet  dream  I  saw  !  But 
now  it  is  gone,  and  I  am  left  here  yet  virgin.^* 
Forgive  me,  Peitho  !     All  this  bridal  pomp  the  misty 

«  A  bit  of  orthodoxy  on  Nonnos's  part ;  a  god's  bride  must 
be  virgin.  The  local  legend  was  that  Ariadne  died  in  child- 
bed, Plutarch,  Thes.  20. 

395 


NONNOS 

Kal  <l>0oi'€pri  rdS€  rravra  <fta€€r^6pof  wmaatv    llu/r* 

€ypofi€vrj  5*  ovx  €vpov  i^iov  n69c¥*  t)  fa  Kfd  avrax 

€Ik6v€S  aprirvrrajv  ^rjX-qfiov^i  €iaw  *Epanw¥, 

OTTi  T€X€aaiydfiwv  aTran^Xiov  oifrw  6v€ifim¥ 

lfjL€fyrqv  €v6r)Ga,  teal  cftcpocc;  ^^V*  ^V^^S  ^^ 

€tV  €fi€  Kal  (if>iXo^  'Tttvo^  dvdpowf'  CiiroTf,  v^poi, 

€LnaT€  fxoi  hvatporri'  rU  rjfnraa€v  ocrrdr   Ain|ri|f; 

ct  Bopo}9  YTvciAacui',  fV  *Upci9iMav  Ixdvta' 

dXXd  fjLoi  *ilp€i&via  ;(oAt6€Tai,  orrt  Koi  ai>r^ 

oljita  ^p^t  MapaOdfVo^,  oBtv  ^Aof  iwXrro  Oi^offvp.  uo 

€c  T€<t>vpo^  kXov€€i,  Zi^VfnfSk  5«^farc  nlyi^ 

et  N0T09,  €i  dpaav^  ESpof,  4^  ^piy^uip  UA»ta 

fi€fjul>ofi€vr)  podiwv  dytfioMf  ivo^pum  r€feovan, 

66s  K€V(riv  ndXiv,  Tirvc,  ^iXrfv  x4p^»  ^"'^^  €Ktl»^  M5 

ntfiTTwv  dXXov  6v€ipov  €7rqparov,  o^po.  voif^aw 

KvnpiBos  vrrvaXcrjf  yXvKtprriv  diranjAiov  ci)n(r* 

jiovvov  c/xoif  hijBuvov  cir*  ofifiaaiv,  o^pa  ¥on/faw 

diTvoov  otarpov  'KparrtK  6v€ip€iaf¥  CfAtvalutv. 

€(  /i€v  €s  ^ArOiBa  ycudv,  hrucXant  wvpu^  ^i^atH,    tfo 

GOV  ttXoov  €k  No^oto  fiTT^yayov  apnayts  o^jpcu, 

ciTTc  /Lioi  €tpofi€vrj,  Kol  ^9  AulAoi'  atVuTQ  fiaipcj 

fji^fiff>ofji€inj  <f>Sov€polai  teal  oux  ootounv  oijrcuj* 

€t  he  p.€  'rr)v  XinoTrarpiv  ipr^pahi  ndpBtro  fid((p, 

Koi  aiSev  dyvuHjaovros  dfL€iXiXps  ctrAcc  vavrrj^,      S66 

^AiTcv  €tV  0T7oi7a  Kal  ciV  0€fuv,  €49  *A/Ha5vi7v* 

firjKdri,  vavTiXos  o^os  Sot  ttotc  iro^nov  d'qrrjv, 

fi-qhe  fuv  doraOieaai  awnnrevovra  Bv^XXaif 

iXaos  ddp7jG€L€  yoAT^i'cudj  McAuccpn^* 

*  The  allusion  is  to  the  altars  of  £rot  and  Aotrroa,  for 
S96 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  331-359 

darkness  marshalled  for  me,  all  this  the  envious 
dawn  of  day  has  torn  from  me — and  awaking  I  found 
not  my  heart's  desire  !  Are  the  very  images  of 
Love  and  Love  Returned  jealous  of  me  ? "  for  I  saw 
a  deUghtful  vision  of  marriage  accomplished  in  a 
deceitful  dream,  and  lovely  Theseus  was  gone. 

336  "  Xo  me,  even  kind  Sleep  is  cruel.  Tell  me,  ye 
rocks,  tell  the  unhappy  lover — who  stole  the  man  of 
Athens  ?  If  it  should  be  Boreas  blowing,  I  appeal  to 
Oreithyia  :  but  Oreithyia  hates  me,  because  she  also 
has  the  blood  of  Marathon,  whence  beloved  Theseus 
came.  If  Zephyros  torments  me,  tell  Iris  the  bride  of 
Zephyros  and  mother  of  Desire,  to  behold  Ariadne 
maltreated.  If  it  is  Notos,  if  bold  Euros,  I  appeal  to 
Eos  and  reproach  the  mother  of  the  blustering  winds,** 
lovelorn  herself. 

^^  "  Give  me  again.  Sleep,  your  empty  boon,  so 
pleasant  ;  send  me  another  delectable  dream  like 
that,  so  that  I  may  know  the  sweet  bed  of  love  in  a 
deceptive  dream  !  Only  linger  upon  my  eyes,  that  I 
may  know  the  unreal  passion  of  married  love  in  a 
dream  !  O  Theseus  my  treacherous  bridegroom,  if 
the  marauding  winds  have  carried  your  course  from 
Naxos  to  the  Athenian  land,  tell  me  now  I  ask,  and  I 
vdll  resort  to  Aiolos  at  once  reproaching  the  jealous 
and  wicked  winds.  But  if  some  cruel  seaman  without 
your  knowledge  left  me  outlawed  in  desert  Naxos, 
and  sailed  away,  he  sinned  against  Theseus  and 
against  Themis,  against  Ariadne.  May  that  sailor 
never  see  a  favourable  wind ;  if  he  rides  the  raging 
storm,  may  Melicertes  never  look  on  him  graciously 

which  see  Rose,  Handbook  of  Mythology,  p.  123.  That  these 
altars  are  both  of  comparatively  late  origin  does  not  trouble 
Nonnos.  "  Cf.  Hesiod,  Theog.  378. 

397 


NONNOS 

oAAa  NoToj  TTVfuacicv,  art  Xpdo9  ifrri  Bo/mop*        380 
Eu/)oi'  Sot  Xt^vpov  K€Xorjp^vas'  tlapiyoi  Si 

TTOlTOTTOpOlS    OT€    ndoiV    tTTiTrVtioVOW   d^TOA, 

X€ifi€pirj  t6t€  fiovvos  ofuXi^tM  9aXdiran. 
^AiT€  vauTiXoi  ouTos  dO^afUO^'  aXXA  mu  oMj 
aaadfirjv  TToBtovoa  ati6Spovo9  darov  'AftfM|(.  966 

aWe  fiiv  ovK  €n69rjim  Ovaifupof'  tU  Ilo^^^  yap 
omrooov  IfKpoti^,  roaov  dyptof  hrXtro  0notU9* 
ov  rdSt  fioi  KariXtitv  iyuov  furov  tlain  vqXXump* 
ov  To^c  fxoi  KarcAc^c  nap*  iuitripta  Xafivpivdift. 
aidd  fuv  cfCTovc  ravpo^  ofUiAixoi'  urxto,  4*"'^$      ^^ 
di^pocrvvT)^ ,  fitf  KTtUt  v4o¥  yXMHtvv  wfUH  *£>pairiAft^' 
Srjacvs  €itX€€  fiovvof  ^y  twLBivaf  'A^iJMif . 
otha,  noBtv  fi€  AcAoiirc*  fuijf  ^dva  wapfimntediuv 
(rvfinXoov  €<t\€V  tparra,  Koi  cV  Siapa$<a¥t  vopcuci 
€1?  €T€fyrj£  ydfiov  dXXo¥,  iyiSa  3'  In  Ndfov  &€V€m},     375 
iraaros  €fxo9  ttcAc  Nofoy,  irrucXont  wfMt  ^rfotv- 
cuAcaa  #cai  y€y€Trjv  koI  wyu^iov  wfioi  *EtpwTtJV' 
ovx  opow  MiVoKz,  Kal  ov  ^riarja  BoKtvut' 
KvcoGGov  €fi-qv  npoXlXoina, 

rtds  h*  OVK  tlhov  *Aftji«as* 
Ttarpos  €voa<f>iaBr)v  /xtu  rrarpSbo^'  d  fUya  SciAi),      360 
Ihvov  ifJLTJ^  <f>iX6Tryro^  vScjp  dX6^-  €is  rwa  ^€vyw; 
ris  d€6s  dpnd^ii  /xc  koX  ciV  yXapaSutva  KOfUaati 
KuTTpiSi  Kai  S-qoTji  SiKa^o^vrjv  'A/Ma5n;y; 

TlV    fJL€    Aa/3a>»^  KO/Xt<TCl€  5l*  OlBfUlTOS:    olBt  KoX  oM) 

rip.€T€pris  fiiTOv  dXXov  ilSai  nofxirfja  KtXtiSdov  386 

TOLOV  €X€iv  eWAcu  Kal  cyoi  fiirov,  a»y  iccv  oAufcu 
AlyalT)^  dXos  olBfia  Kal  ciV  Mo/xi^aii^o  ntoi^aw, 
6<l>pa  TrcpiTTTV^a}  or€,  Kal  ct  orvycciy  *Apia8irqv, 
o^/xx  irepLTTTv^cj  G€  Tov  opKanarqv  irapoKoinpf. 

398 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  360-389 

or  bring  him  a  calm  sea  ;  but  may  Notos  blow  when 
he  wants  Boreas,  may  he  see  Em'os  when  he  needs 
Zephyros  ;  when  the  winds  of  springtime  blow  upon 
all  mariners,  may  he  alone  meet  with  a  wintry  sea. 
364  "  That  lawless  sailor  sinned  :  but  I  myself  was 
bhnded  when  I  desired  the  countryman  of  chaste 
Athena.  Would  that  I  had  not  desired  him,  love-lorn  ! 
For  Theseus  is  as  savage  as  he  is  charming  in  love. 
This  is  not  what  he  said  to  me  while  yet  he  handled 
my  thread,  this  is  not  what  he  said  at  our  labyrinth  !  « 

0  that  the  cruel  bull  had  killed  him  !  Hush,  my 
voice,  no  more  folly,  do  not  kill  the  dehghtful  boy. 
Alas,  my  love  !  Theseus  "has  sailed  alone  to  Athens 
his  happy  mother.  I  know  why  he  left  me — in  love 
no  doubt  with  one  of  the  maidens  who  sailed  with  him, 
and  now  he  holds  wedding  dance  for  the  other  at 
Marathon  while  I  still  walk  in  Naxos.  My  bridal 
bower  was  Naxos,  O  Theseus  my  treacherous  bride- 
groom !  I  have  lost  both  father  and  bridegroom  : 
alas  my  love !     I  see  not  Minos,  I  behold  not  Theseus ; 

1  have  left  my  own  Cnossos,  but  I  have  not  seen  your 
Athens  ;  both  father  and  fatherland  are  lost.  O  un- 
happy me  !  Your  gift  for  my  love  is  the  water  of  the 
brine.  Who  can  be  my  refuge  ?  What  god  will  catch 
me  up  and  convey  to  Marathon  Ariadne,  that  she  may 
claim  her  rights  before  Cypris  and  Theseus  ?  Who 
will  take  me  and  carry  me  over  the  flood  ?  If  only  I 
could  myself  see  another  thread,  to  guide  my  way 
too  !  Such  a  thread  I  want  for  myself,  to  escape  from 
the  Aigaian  flood  and  cross  to  Marathon,  that  I  may 
embrace  you  even  if  you  hate  Ariadne,  that  I  may 
embrace  you  my  perjured  husband.     Take  me  for 

**  The  clue  of  thread  she  gave  him  to  find  his  way  out  of  the 
maze  where  the  Minotaur  lived. 

399 


NONNOS 

bc^o  fJL€  aa>v  Acxcoiv  BaXafLtjnoXov,  rjp  iOtXi^ajjs'     M 
Kai  aTOp€a€o  aio  Xitcrpa   .   .   . 

old  T€  Xr)UT6€Ura'  koI  oXfiiarn  aio  vvfi^p 
TXrjaofiai,  cuy  Btpdnawa,  iroXvKporov  urrov  v^alvtw 
Koi  (f>dovtpoi9  cjfjLoiaiy  d-q$€a  KoXntP  acLpcu^, 
/cat  yXvK€pw  0i;<r^i  ^o€iv  itrMptnov  vowp*  381 

fiovvov  i&w  0i7<7^'  iroi  rifuriprf  wori  fi^/ff^p 
aypov6fioi9  Bi^€V€,  koI  avx^va  KiifufK  vofirji, 
PouKOfjJvo)  5*  oapi{cv  a/^unnjTtp  run  ravpt(t, 
Koi  pot  ravpov  irucrt'  fiMXi(ofidvov  Bi  fiornpof 
njfKribo^  ov  iToBov  €<rx€V,  oaov  fwtajdfiop  <ucov€w.  401 
ov  fjL€v  €yw  0auacufu  KoXavpoiro^,  o6  ncipa  f^Tvjj 
crrrjaofiai'  rffitrifnis  W  naptaaofiai  iyyvi  dvdaofji 
<j>d€yyoyiivw  ^r^aiji,  tcax  ov  ftvtnjdfiov  dxouaw 
Kal  T€6v  lfup6€yTa  ydfujav  vfUvaujv  dtiaw 
^rjXov  vTTOKXtTrrovaa  vto^vyiof  aio  vvfi^rr^.  40( 

ari\aov  No^io^eaai  Trap*  ^oai  novTonop€Vijjv , 
arfjaov  ifjLol  aio  vna-  ri,  vavriXt,  koX  av  x^Xiiimts; 
COS*  dpa  Kol  av  ttcAci;  SlapaStovto^'  Ci  fUv  Ixdyfif 
€LS  ipaTT^v  aio  yoXav,  ottq  5o/ao;  iariv  'EpofTwv,       \ 
Bi^o  fi€  b€iXairiv,  Iva  KiKpoiro^  darv  vor^cu*  4U 

ei  bi  fi€  KaXX€ttlf€is  Koi,  dfL€iXix€,  TtovronofKvtis , 
^Irrk  T€a>  0170171  KLwpofiimjv  *ApidBvrjv, 
fxep/tx^^iivriv  driXcarov  inucXonov  opKov  *KpcjTwv, 
olSa,  TToSev  0T7<n}oj  \m6a\€aw  rjTT€porrffo^ 
drJK€v  "Epws  Papvfirjvtg  dvrjwTOV  dyrl  yap  'Hprjs,  41fl 
^v  7jvyL7)v  KoXiovaiv,  dn€ipoydfUHO  $€aiyrf^ 
WfiOGcv  dxpdvToio  yafi-qXiov  opKOV  'AOijyf^' 
IlaAAaSos'   opKov  6poaa€' 

tI  YlaXXdhi  Kol  KvO€p€iri;  '* 

ToUl   KlWpOfUvqs   €7r€Tipn€TO   J^dKXOS  OKOVWV 

400 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  390-419 

your  chambermaid,  if  you  like,  and  I  will  lay  your  bed, 
and  be  your  Ariadne  (in  Marathon)  instead  of  Crete, 
like  some  captive  girl.  I  will  endure  to  serve  your 
most  happy  bride  ;  I  will  ply  the  rattling  loom,  and 
lift  a  pitcher  on  envious  shoulders,  an  unfamiliar  task, 
and  bring  handwash  after  supper  for  sweet  Theseus — 
only  let  me  see  Theseus  !  My  mother  too  once  was 
the  menial  of  a  farmer,**  and  bowed  her  neck  for  a 
herdsman,  and  prattled  of  love  to  a  dumb  bull  in  the 
pasture,  and  brought  the  bull  a  calf.  She  cared  not 
to  hear  the  herdsman  make  music  on  his  pipe  so 
much  as  to  hear  the  bellowing  bull.  I  will  not  touch 
the  crook,  I  will  not  stand  in  the  stall  ;  but  I  wdll  be 
ready  beside  my  queen  to  hear  the  voice  of  Theseus, 
not  the  bellowing  of  a  bull.  I  will  sing  a  lovely  song 
for  your  wedding,  and  hide  my  jealousy  of  your  newly 
wedded  bride. 

^^^  "  Stay  your  voyage  by  the  sands  of  Naxos, 
sailor,  stay  your  ship  for  me  !  What — are  you  angry 
too  ?  So  you  too  come  from  Marathon  ?  If  you  are 
bound  for  your  lovely  land,  where  is  the  home  of 
love,  take  this  unhappy  girl  on  board  that  I  may 
behold  the  city  of  Cecrops.  If  you  must  leave  me, 
pitiless,  and  go  on  your  voyage,  tell  your  Theseus 
of  mourning  Ariadne,  how  she  reproaches  the 
treacherous  oath  of  love  unfulfilled.  I  know  why 
angry  Eros  has  left  unfulfilled  Theseus  the  deceiver's 
promise.  He  swore  his  marriage-oath  not  by  Hera, 
whom  they  call  the  Nuptial  goddess,  but  by  the 
immaculate  Athena,  the  goddess  who  knows  nothing 
of  marriage.  He  swore  by  Pallas — and  what  has 
Pallas  to  do  with  Cythereia  ?  " 

^1^  Bacchos  was  enraptured  to  hear  this  lament. 

"  When  she  was  disguised  as  a  cow. 
VOL.  Ill  2  D  4<01 


NONNOS 

KcKpomrjv  8*  Mr)a€  koI  owofJM  Omr^  fyw        480 
Kal  GToXov  €K  l^prffTT)^  airarr^uMr  oyjf*  hi  Kovptf^ 
€vB€Ov  €tBos  €xojv  dfiaovootTO'  noptkvuc^  hi 
<f>€fyr€pov  €19  TTodov  aXKov  iyLAortt  tchnopi  Ktortp 
Bovpos  'Epcj^  TTipiifpoiroi,  anwf  MivcuAi  Kovprjv 
7r€idofjL€VTjv  (cufcic  KaaiyvijTtp  ^M)rf5atp,  425 

teal  Kiyvprrjv  hvoipurra  Tta^nfyopiuw  *KpMvf\v 

TOlov   €7T09   <^rO    BoXYCX   €Q   ^p€VO$€X')4l   ^1^* 

*'  Uapdevt,  ri  OTcva^*** 

fivfjoTiv  €a  Srtarjo^'  €X€if  ^iSwotm  ^JKolxq^, 

avrl  fuwvBabtou  noaw  a^iTor*  €l  S^  m  W/mci      4S0 

•ijXiKo^  rjid€ov  Pp6t€W  h^fia^,  ov  mm  ^rfa€Vt 

€19  dp€rrjv  Kal  koXXo^  ipiBfiaiv€i  ^wviioigt, 

dXX*  €p€€i9'  '  vatrripa  irthoQKQi^ios  XaBvpMov 

hiaGo<t>urj  <f>olvi(€v  o/io(uvov  d»4pa  rtuiptfi'' 

olha9  doaarfTjjpa  tcoi'  furov'  oi  vap  <l'  * 

€Vp€V  d€6X€V€tV  Kopwr>^pof  doTOS  *A( 

ct  /X17  $rjXt/9  dfjLvi't  poioxpoas'  ov  at 

Koi  t\a<f>Lr)v  koI  'Epotra  Koi  'ffXaxdrrjv  *ApuiByrjs. 

aWcpOS   OVK    €p€(l9   OTi   /XCl^O^fV    CUTtV   *Ad»MU* 

ov  All  'nap.p€h€ovri  TrovcurcAo;  cttActo  Mivcu?,  ♦•O 

aos  ycvdrqs'  ov  Kvohjoos  opLOuo^  iariv  *OXvp,n(p. 
ovhe  fid-njv  aroXo^  oiJroy  ^firJ9  dn€pi^aaro  Nafov, 
oAAa  11 0^09  a€  <f>vXa(€v  dp€uyripoi9  uftcvoibic 
dXpir),  orri  Xinovoa  ;(€pcu>va  Srfa^o^  €M/» 
hefiviov  lii€p6€vros  €Ga6prfa€i9  ^Uovvaov,  ^i.^i 

Ti  ttAcov  TJdcXcf  €^x^  \m€pT€pov;    dfL^6T€pov  yap 
ovpavov  oXkov  c^ci?,  €Kvp69  hi  aol  can  Kpoviury. 
ov  aoi  KaaGL€n€ia  bvynacrai  hjo^api^€W 
TTaihos  €7)9  8ia  Koapov    OXvpTnov'  a2d€piov9  yap 

402 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  420-449 

He  noticed  Cecropia,  and  knew  the  name  of  Theseus 
and  the  deceitful  voyage  from  Crete.  Before  the  girl 
he  appeared  in  his  radiant  godhead  ;  Eros  moved 
swdftly  about,  and  with  stinging  cestus  he  whipt  the 
maiden  into  a  nobler  love,  that  he  might  lead  Minos 's 
daughter  to  join  wilhngly  with  his  brother  Dionysos. 
Then  Bacchos  comforted  Ariadne,  lovelorn  and 
lamenting,  with  these  words  in  his  mindcharming 
voice  : 

*28  **  Maiden,  why  do  you  sorrow  for  the  deceitful 
man  of  Athens  ?  Let  pass  the  memory  of  Theseus  ; 
you  have  Dionysos  for  your  lover,  a  husband  incor- 
ruptible for  the  husband  of  a  day  !  If  you  are  pleased 
with  the  mortal  body  of  a  youthful  yearsmate, 
Theseus  can  never  challenge  Dionysos  in  manhood  or 
comeliness.  But  you  will  say, '  He  shed  the  blood  of 
the  halfbull  man  whose  den  was  the  earthdug  laby- 
rinth !  '  But  you  know  your  thread  was  his  saviour : 
for  the  man  of  Athens  with  his  club  ^  would  never 
have  found  victory  in  that  contest  without  a  rosy- 
red  girl  to  help  him.  I  need  not  tell  you  of  Eros 
and  the  Paphian  and  Ariadne's  distaff.  You  will  not 
say  that  Athens  is  greater  than  heaven.  Minos  your 
father  was  not  the  equal  of  Zeus  Almighty,  Cnossos  is 
not  Uke  Olympos.  Not  for  nothing  did  that  fleet  sail 
from  my  Naxos,  but  Desire  preserved  you  for  a  nobler 
bridal.  Happy  girl,  that  you  leave  the  poor  bed  of 
Theseus  to  look  on  the  couch  of  Dionysos  the  desir- 
able !  What  could  you  pray  for  higher  than  that  ? 
You  have  both  heaven  for  your  home  and  Cronion  for 
your  goodfather.  Cassiepeia  will  not  be  equal  to  you 
because    of  her    daughter's    Olympian   glory ;     for 

"  In  this  as  in  many  other  details  Theseus  is  an  echo  of 
Heracles. 

403 


NONNOS 

Sccr/zoi)?  *AvSpofJi€hjf  KKU  iv  atrrpaaw 

tunaat  Utpatik'     499 
dXXd  aoi  aaT€p6€v  rtXiaw  ari^o^,  cuf  iccv  oKovfra^ 
€vv€ris  aiyXi^€aaa  ^iXoort^dpov  ^Ufyvowf." 

EfTTC  7Taprjyop€wv'  Kol  ctroAAcTO  xipuari  Kovprj 
fivrjarw  oXrjv  (^rjarjo^  airoppujnaa  VaXtotrQ, 
ovpavlov  fivrjarijpo^  imo<rx€aaj¥  ^itmfoimf  *^ 

S€(afi€inrf,    Kai  naarov  "Epca^  iwtK6ouM  BaiQf^' 

avBia  -ndvra  rtOrjAi'  Koi  tiapwoun  irmjAocf 

Na^ov  fKVKXuHTairro  x^pirtS€f  *Opxofi4voiO' 

Kai  6aXdfiou9  tXiyaivtv  'AftaBpvd^,  OLfjL^  bk  ^''VfY^  ^^ 

NT^ias*  dtcprj8€fivo9  aadfifiaXos  i^O€  NiMi^ 

baifiovi  porpv6€i'Tt  awanrofUrfi^  ^hMiAnfr 

'OpTvyirj  b*  dAoAu(c»  TroAiooovyoio  M  ^cifiov 

yvwrCi  wp.4>iov  vfivov  atfotcpovovaa  Avaiip 

ei9  x^P^^  €aKipTrfat  kqI  dgrrv^^Xucros  ^0600.  466 

'nop<f>vp€ois  5<  po3oi<n  irtpirpoxP^  ^vBof  ip4wrw¥ 

fidvTis  'Epcj^  iwp6<if  <rr€^09  hrXiict, 

ovyXpoov  aarpai¥, 
ovpaviov  ^r€<f>di'Oio  npodyytXov  dfi^  3<  vvfuffrj^ 
Na^idSo;  GKipTT)a€  ymioaroXo^  iapuK  *Epurrw¥, 

Kcu  fi;yu)ij  daXd^ioujw  ofuAi/oa;  Vfuvaioi^  470 

\pvao7TdTojp  noXvncu&a  yovrjv  €im€ip€v  dfcoirq^. 
Kai  SoXlxtiv  TToXioio  xpovov  arpo^dXiyya  kvXuSwv 
fiTjTcpos  €vaiSLvog  €-fjg  ifurjaaro  'Pctny 
Kol  XapiTojv  nXrjOovoav  dfupu^a  Nofoi'  idaas 
*EAAa8os  darea  ndvra  fi€'rni€V'  ImrofidTOV  8c  475 

''Apy€os  €yyvs  ucavc,  *cai  ei  Xdx^v  "Ivaxov  'Hpij, 
oi  hd  fiiv  ovK  dBtxovTO,  x^ponXtK^a^  &€  ywawcay 
Kai  ^arvpovs  iBiwKov,  aTrqpmnaavTO  5c  Bvpaovs, 
pL-q  TTOTC  SrjXi^aaxTO  IlcAaayiKOK  thpavov  'Hfwy 
404 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  450-479 

Perseus  has  left  her  heavenly  chains  to  Andromeda 
even  in  the  stars,  but  for  you  I  will  make  a  starry 
crown,"  that  you  may  be  called  the  shining  bedfellow 
of  crownloving  Dionysos." 

^^  So  he  comforted  her;  the  girl  throbbed  with 
joy,  and  cast  into  the  sea  all  her  memories  of 
Theseus  when  she  received  the  promise  of  wedlock 
from  her  heavenly  wooer.  Then  Eros  decked  out  a 
bridal  chamber  for  Bacchos,  the  wedding  dance  re- 
sounded, about  the  bridal  bed  all  flowers  grew  ;  the 
dancers  of  Orchomenos  ^  surrounded  Naxos  with 
foliage  of  spring,  the  Hamadryad  sang  of  the  wed- 
ding, the  Naiad  nymph  by  the  fountains  unveiled 
unshod  praised  the  union  of  Ariadne  with  the  vine- 
god  :  Ortygia  ^  cried  aloud  in  triumph,  and  chanting 
a  bridal  hymn  for  Lyaios  the  brother  of  Phoibos 
cityholder  she  «kipt  in  the  dance,  that  unshakable 
rock.  Fiery  Eros  made  a  round  flowergarland  with 
red  roses  and  plaited  a  wreath  coloured  like  the 
stars,  as  prophet  and  herald  of  the  heavenly  Crown  ; 
and  round  about  the  Naxian  bride  danced  a  swarm  of 
the  Loves  which  attend  on  marriage. 

*'^^  The  Golden  Father  entering  the  chamber  of 
wedded  love  sowed  the  seed  of  many  children.  Then 
rolling  the  long  circle  of  hoary  time,  he  remembered 
Rheia  his  prolific  mother ;  and  leaving  faultless  Naxos 
still  full  of  Graces  he  visited  all  the  towns  of  Hellas. 
He  came  near  horsebreeding  Argos,  even  though  Hera 
ruled  the  Inachos.  But  the  people  would  not  receive 
him  ;  they  chased  away  the  danceweaving  women 
and  Satyrs ;  they  repudiated  the  thyrsus,  lest  Hera 
should  be  jealous  and  destroy  her  Pelasgian  seat,  if 

"  The  constellation  Corona. 
*  The  Graces.  "  Delos,  or  its  nymph. 

405 


NONNOS 

CriX-q^iwv,  papvfiTfvig  tniPpiBovaa  Kvalt^*  410 

'L€iXr)vovs  Sc  ytpovras  iprjrvov.    a^vu/ioof  M 
'Ifa^tSay  Aiowktoj'  oAa?  oitrrffffot  yvMiocaf* 
fivKTjdfiw  8'  dAoAaJov  'AjfoiiScff*  avToyUrcM^  8^ 
€XP<iov  €v  TpioSoioiv  tm  o^cW/XMOi  M  5ciAai 
dpTiTOKois  Pp€^€aaw  €iru>(wotrro  fiaxoUpat,  480 

wv  rj  fi€v  (ii^os  c2A«rc  9cal  IWroify  M/a  fii^p, 
oAAr;  §£  TpUrqpov  amiXoirffn  ytviBkif¥, 
Kai  Tt9  dinyifdinriCcv  <y  ^po  fCOVpO¥  dXajfrtjif 
CMTCTi  fiaoTcuoin'a  ^i^i^  yAayoy*  S^XufUmifif  M 
''lKa;(os-  dpTiroKujv  Pp€^vjv  iirt^iautrro  w^Tfup'       4M 
fi-qrqp  5*  cirravcv  via,  «rai  oi)  in^tfoc  iwXtTO  fia^un' 
naihoKoyuuv,  ov  p.vrjaTii  omyKolov  roKtmio' 
Warfpiwv  5\  oSi  iroXXa  BaXAna  fiM^f/imK  ^fifff 
rji6€ujv  Ktipovro  Xivorpixo^  diS^a  sc6panif, 
avTovs  irat&a;  c5<«rTO  Kol  odK^  fi6orpfVxa  )^n^. 

Kat  Ti9  Ihwv  Tiva  Xarpiv  hrtpfXPiUvoio  Avalov 
Totov  €7ro9  KaT(X((€  ricAcurytSa;  aar6f  dpavprf^' 

"  Oi5to9  o  porpw  €x<^y,  Bi^v^i  Y^v^'  <Sfior  ^Wprjf 
Apyos  €X€i  Wtpvifa  koI  o^  X9'1'^*^  tuoyvaov' 
aSXov  c^co  Aio?  via  koX  ov  Bcur;(OiO  ;(ari{oi. 
TToatTt  TToXvoKapdyiOiai  Trarci  AioioKro;  onwprpr 

lXf€aLV    {H/jlTTOpOiOiV    €fl6s    Y^VOf    MP^    T</XV€4. 

fii9  KLaauj  bp€7rdirqv  ura^crc*  irol  yaf>  dp€iwv 
^aKxov  0vpao<f>6pov  8p€navrf<^po^  tnXiro  Wtpatvf' 
€t  crrparov  *\vB6v  €TT€<f>v€v,  d€$X»o¥  taov  hnfftot 
Topyo<l>6voi  riepcr^t  kqX  ^Xvho^om^  Atotnjatp' 
€1  Se  itoXvkXvotoio  nap*  'Eairtpiov  tcXifux  mWov 
oXKoSa  AaiVcT^v    Tvp<rqviBa  tt^c  daXaacru, 

•  A  river  of  the  Argolki.     Young  people,  on 
406 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  480-508 

her  heavy  wrath  should  press  hard  on  Lyaios  ;  they 
checked  the  old  Seilenoi.  Then  Dionysos,  angry,  sent 
madness  upon  all  the  Inachian  women.  The  women 
of  Achaia  loudly  bellowed  ;  they  attacked  those  they 
met  at  the  threeways  ;  the  poor  creatures  sharpened 
knives  for  their  own  newborn  babies — one  mother 
drew  sword  and  slew  her  son,  another  destroyed  her 
threeyearold  child,  one  again  hurled  into  the  air 
her  baby  boy  still  searching  for  the  welcome  milk. 
Inachos  was  stained  with  the  death  of  perishing 
newborn  babes  ;  a  mother  killed  a  son,  never  missed 
him  at  her  nursing  breast,  never  thought  of  the  pangs 
of  travail.  Asterion,**  where  the  young  men  so  often 
cut  the  flower  of  their  bared  brows  as  firstfruits  of 
growing  age,  now  received  the  children  themselves 
and  no  longer  locks  of  hair. 

*^®  As  Lyaios  came  up,  a  man  of  the  Pelasgian 
country  thus  called  out  to  one  of  the  servants  of 
the  god  : 

498  < '  You  there  with  the  grapes ,  you  hybrid !  Argos 
has  her  Perseus,  one  worthy  of  Hera,  and  needs 
not  Dionysos.  I  have  another  son  of  Zeus  and  I 
want  no  Bacchos.  Dionysos  treads  the  vintage  with 
dancing  feet  ;  my  countryman  cuts  the  air  with  high- 
travelling  steps. ^  Do  not  think  ivy  as  good  as  the 
sickle,  for  Perseus  with  his  sickle  is  better  than 
Bacchos  with  his  ivy  ;  if  Bacchos  destroyed  the 
Indian  host,  I  will  announce  an  equal  prize  for  Per- 
seus Gorgonslayer  and  Dionysos  Indianslayer.  If 
Bacchos  once  in  the  western  region  of  the  rolling 
sea  turned  into  stone  a  Tyrrhenian  ship  and  fixt  it 

puberty,  commonly  cut  their  hair  and  offered  it  to  a  local 
deity,  often  a  river. 

*  For  the  story  of  Perseus,  see  Rose,  Handbook  of  Greek 
Mythology,  pp.  272  flf. 

407 


NONNOS 

KTJTOS  oXov  7r€pifi€rpov  c/xoj  n€rpwoaro  Flc/Krci^. 

el  Sc  Tcos"  ^lowaof  tprj^oi'OfUft  Trapa  n6vT<ft  510 

UTTvaXerjv  eadwuev  ctt    "qiovtjv  'Apidhirrjy, 

ScGfioifs  *AvSpofi€^^  wTcpociy  dvtXvaaro  flcpacvf, 

d^iov  ibvov  e^ajy  TrcT/xoSca  ^po  SaXdaorf^' 

ov  TTtjJS  *AvSpofi€Srjv  Ua^rj^  XQf^» 

ov  frorc  Utpatt^ 
Qrjaw  IfxfCpovaav  cffv  ippvaaro  vvu^ntp^'  515 

oAAa  aaoiftpoveovTa  ydfiov  Aa;(fv.    co9  ^L^fiiXriv  S4, 
ov  Aavdrjv  TrijpociTcy  irt^owawrro  tc€pavvoi' 
dXXa  narfip  llcpa^o^  *0Xufiino9  Ofifipos  *Kpan(MJV 
Xpva€os  CIS"  ydfLov  ^A^c, 

«rai  oi$  ^Xcy6€is  napoMovrr^. 
ovK  dyafiai  irort  rovrov  iyot  irp^ifiov'  iv  naXdpyj  yap  520 
TTolov  €X€t  Bopv  Oovpov  * Ap>i/fio¥ ;    urx^Of  l\fp<^^v' 
Vopyoi^vw  bp€ndvr)  firi  fidpn^ao  $i^l  tctautp' 
firj  (j€o  x^^P^-  h^^*^  ywauctioun  KoBopvotf 
p,rj  Kvveqv  *A<5ao  Tcocy  Kpord/^oiot  nvdfiK 
<7T€/xftaToy  dfineXoevTOi  Ivaarriov  rpf  8*  io€Xij<rjjs,    5*> 
* AvBpofieh-qv  d(jjpr)(ov  ddwpiJKrtp  Aiovvaof 
xdC^eo  fioi,  Aioit^ac,  teal  iTmiov  'Apyof  tdaas 
Qrjp-qs  €7TTanvXou}  ndXiv  pdK)(€V€  ywcLUca^' 
KT€lv€  v€ov  YlevBija'  Tt  Ilcpac'i  koI  AioyvQ<p; 
"Iva^ov  iliKvp€€Bpov  dvaiV€0'  Kot  at  htx^o^*^  530 

G'qpr]s  *Aoi'iT]s  7roTa/i09  PpaSvs'  ov  a€  Si&d(a» 
^AawTTov  papvyovpov  ctc  itiotrra  KMpauvw." 

ToLOv  €7Tos  KarcAcfcv  CTTcyycAooir  AforiNrai. 
^Apyclrjv  he  <f>dXayya   HeXaayia^  awAurcv  'npt)' 
p.avTL7r6Xa)  8*  rjiKTO  M(Aa/x7ro3c*  Ywop^vr]  ht  535 

Topyo^vco  ricpoTJi  fia^i^fiova  pnlj^aTO  ^cavntf 

*'  Ovpavir)s  pXdcmjfjLa  yovrj^,  KopvBoioXf  Uepatv, 
a^v  SpendvTjv  dvdetpe,  fi-q  dirroXefup  riyl  Ovpat^ 
408 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  509-538 

in  the  sea,  my  Perseus  turned  into  stone  a  whole 
huge  monster  of  the  deep.  If  your  Dionysos  saved 
Ariadne,  sleeping  on  the  sands  beside  an  empty  sea, 
Perseus  on  the  wing  loosed  the  chains  of  Andromeda 
and  offered  the  stone  seamonster  as  a  worthy  bridal 
gift.  Not  for  the  Paphian's  sake,  not  while  she 
longed  for  Theseus  did  Perseus  save  Andromeda  to 
be  his  bride  ;  a  chaste  wedding  was  his.  No  fiery 
lightnings  burnt  Danae  to  ashes,  like  Semele  ;  but 
the  father  of  Perseus  came  to  his  wedding  as  a  golden 
shower  of  love  from  heaven,  not  as  a  flaming  bed- 
fellow. 

^20  "I  do  not  admire  this  hero  at  all.  For  what 
lusty  spear  of  war  does  he  hold  ?  Stay,  Perseus,  do 
not  fight  the  woman's  ivy  with  your  Gorgonslayer 
sickle,  do  not  defile  your  hand  with  a  woman's 
buskins,  do  not  shake  the  cap  of  Hades  "  upon  your 
brow  against  a  ^Teath  of  vineleaves — but  if  you  wish, 
arm  Andromeda  against  unarmed  Dionysos.  Begone, 
Dionysos,  I  tell  you  ;  leave  Argos  and  its  horses  and 
madden  once  more  the  women  of  sevengate  Thebes. 
Find  another  Pentheus  to  kill — what  has  Perseus  to 
do  with  Dionysos  ?  Let  be  the  swift  stream  of 
Inachos,  and  let  the  slow  river  of  Aonian  Thebes 
receive  you.  I  need  not  remind  you  of  heavy  knee 
Asopos  boiling  still  with  the  thunderbolt."  ^ 

^^  So  the  man  spoke,  deriding  Dionysos.  Mean- 
while Pelasgian  Hera  equipped  her  Argive  army  ; 
she  took  the  shape  of  the  seer  Melampus,  and  angrily 
called  to  Perseus  Gorgonslayer  in  martial  words  : 

537  "  Perseus  Flashhelm,  offspring  of  heavenly 
race  !     Lift  your  sickle,  and  let  not  weak  women 

«•  The  Cap  of  Darkness  {Tarnkappe)  by  which  he  was  made 
invisible  in  his  adventures.  "  Cf.  xxiii.  232. 

409 


NONNOS 

dSpav4€9  Tcov  'Apyo^  aurraKruxn  ywauctt 
fjLT)  rpofUois  €va  fiovvov  o^w  {ciKrr^pa  KOfidaf¥,       510 
oTTi  Ba<f>oivT)(aaa  TC17  &rjpotcr6¥Of  apfini 
A^ta  roaaarUuv  o^iiov  rjfiflin  MtiovarK' 
haaaapiBwv  Sc  ^cLAayyt  KOpvomo'  YaAKOp6^v  B^ 
fivioeo  napOtvfwi'a^,  &irQ  AaM£i|f  Sia  9c6Xmu 
Xpvo€ov  ofjippov  €X€V€  yofkotcXinw  virtof  Zavs,       5t& 
fi-q  Aavdrf  fura  Xitcrpa,  fitra  xptN7<'ovs>  vfuvaiovt 
ovTiBavw  yow  hovXov  unayvQ^ulKU  Avau^t' 
hiiiov,  ore  Kpoviwvo^  Mfrviuj¥  aifia  teoiiUti^, 
hii^ov,  oTi  XP^^^^  ^X^^f  yi^^oit  odpainov  hi 
Xitcrpa  T€ov  tn]pv(ov  ixitcnSfOV  m^ctoSo*  550 

Kol  Xarvpoi;  noA//u{c*  teopWfOOfUvtp  5^  /ivtilqt 
(ftoLviov  ofjLfUL  Tiroiw  8pajcoirroK6fiou>  fAMhovatff, 
Kai  fjL€ra  trucpov  ovcurra  woXuKXuaroto  ^pl^ov 
X(iiv€ov  v€ov  dXXov  iaoBpfifOw  floAvS/imp. 
avv  aol  navhapArtipa  tcop^oomu,  ^ApyoXif  'Hprj    545 
p.rfTpviTj  Upofiioio'  frpoaain(iui¥  hi  Wutcf/fytf^ 
arjv  bp€ndyTjv  #coi>^{c  aaS/irroXiv,  o^pa  vaijom 
€(nTop.€irqv  Ilcpcr^i  bopucrrjrnpf  *\pMi^' 
KT€lv€  fiooKpaipcjv  ^Larvpw¥  orixp.'  Baaoap«ScuF  5c 
o/x^ari  Topy^iu)  Pporrrjv  u€TdfL€ufn¥  timwanv  oe<^ 

€iV  Pperas  avroTtXtarov  opuoUo¥'  amvr&wtfi  ok 
KoXX^i  7T€Tpi^€irri  T€a9  KOOfirjKTOv  ayvid^, 
'Ivaxiai?  dyopfjaiv  dyoAfiara  nouciXa  tci^coi'. 
T4  Tpo/i€€i?  Aiowaov,  ov  ov  Aio?  rjpooav  twai; 
€in€,  ri  aoi  pcfcic;    fierdprnov  Tf€po^iTrj¥  fiA5 

n€^6s  imkp  haTTfhoio  ncrrt  Trrcpdcvro  «fi;fi}a€4;  " 
"EwcTTC  dapavvoviia'  k<u 

€iV  pioSov  hrraro   rTcpercvf. 
#fat  vacra?  KoXeovaa   FlcAaoytay  €pp€pL€  adXniylt 
cSv  o  /X€v  alxpLrjTTJpos  ^Kovjuo^  AvyK€OS  olxf^riv, 
410 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  539-569 

lay  waste  your  Argos  with  an  unwarlike  thyrsus. 
Tremble  not  before  only  one  snake  wreathed  in  the 
hair,  when  your  monsterslaying  sickle  reaped  such  a 
harvest  as  the  vipers  of  Medusa  !  Attack  the  army 
of  Bassarids  ;  remember  the  brazen  vault  which  was 
Danae's  chamber,  where  Rainy  Zeus  poured  in  her 
bosom  a  shower  of  bridestealing  gold — let  not  Danae 
after  that  bed,  after  the  wedding  of  gold,  bend  a 
slavish  knee  to  that  nobody  Dionysos.  Show  that 
you  have  in  you  the  true  blood  of  Cronion,  show  that 
you  have  the  golden  breed,  proclaim  the  bed  that 
received  that  snowstorm  of  heavenly  riches.  Make 
war  on  the  Satyrs  too  :  turn  towards  battling  Lyaios 
the  deadly  eye  of  snakehair  Medusa,  and  let  me  see 
a  new  Polydectes  made  stone  after  the  hateful  king 
of  wavewashed  Seriphos.  By  your  side  is  Argive 
Hera  in  arms,  allvanquishing,  the  stepmother  of 
Bromios.  Defend  Mycene  hft  your  sickle  to  save 
our  city,  that  I  may  behold  Ariadne  captive  of  your 
spear  following  Perseus.  Kill  the  array  of  bull- 
horned  Satyrs,  change  with  the  Gorgon's  eye  the 
human  countenances  of  the  Bassarids  into  hke  images 
selfmade  ;  with  the  beauty  of  the  stone  copies  adorn 
your  streets,  and  make  statues  like  an  artist  for  the 
Inachian  market-places.  Why  do  you  tremble  before 
Dionysos,  no  offspring  of  the  bed  of  Zeus  ?  Tell 
me,  what  could  he  do  to  you  ?  When  shall  a  foot- 
farer  on  the  ground  catch  a  winged  traveller  of  the 
air  ?  " 

^"^  So  she  encouraged  him,  and  Perseus  flew  into 
the  fray.  The  Pelasgian  trumpet  blared  calling  the 
people.    They  came,  one  lifting  the  spear  of  spearman 

411 


NONNOS 

o?  hi  7raXaurr€poio  ^optirt^of,  6f  S^  ll€XaoyoO,      S70 
oAAo^  dvr}€pTai€v  *A/3avTi8a  x^tpi  fio^ifp^ 
KOI  fi€XLrjv  Upoiroio,  tcai  *AKptaio40  ^apdrpnfjv 
oAAo?  dvrip  KowfHi€v,  6  hi  Bpaa^  c2r  fiiBo¥  ion) 

$uyar€pa^  Bwprf(€v  is  ii^po^Aimm  dfi^polovt,  97-' 

oAAo?  ei^v  Kpar4w¥  ir{XnKV¥  fUyoi^,  Hf  impk  fiatfjup 
"Iim;(09  aa7v6)(oio  Bwpr6Xos  Mtoi  *Hpi^ 
urraro  kowI>Hw¥  fio4w¥  TfAtirijpa  U4rmwta¥, 
Kai  arparos  iypttaShoiftos  OMpatmihom  ^mip  Iwrntjav 
€hpap€  p,apvapJvov  pjtr^  l\€po4of*  Sf  hi  wapiarrj  MO 
TpTj)(aXtoif  oroiidrtatn  /i^XV  dXaXayfAf  liXXum, 
7rc{[6s-  amjp,  koI  r6(a  avvijpfioat  kwcXi^U  f'fvpij, 
Kal  yXa^vpt)v  rJ€ip€v  {fwip  vwroio  ^apirpfjv' 
KoJi  irp6fio9  *\py€ianf 

hprmuni^6po9  ItrXtro  Utpatt^, 
Kol  TToSa^  rftpUnow  hrta^f^icoMn  mhlXons,  OK 

Kol  K€<f>aXrjv  urou^fcv  dBrjrpxHO  Mthofkr/ff. 

Avaucofiovs  5*  *l6Patcxos  ids  it(6pvaa€  yinmira; 
Kal  ^larvpovs  ictpotvras'  ifioKX^v^  hi  fOfhoifi^ 
•fi€plT]v  7rr€p6€VTOs  ihwv  npofidxoio  nop€hf¥' 
X^^pl  hi  Bvpaov  d€ip€v,  ioO  trpoPXriTa  npoaumov     AW 
Kowj>it,(tiV  dhdp,avra,  At09  ir€Tpovfi€VOV  Oftfipip 
Xdav,  dXcfrfTTJpa  XiSoyXijvou}  McSowny?, 
6<l>pa  4>vyrj  acAa;  tySpdv  dSrfWTOio  Trpooumov. 

l^aaaapiBwv  bi  <f>aXayyas  mojv 

Koi  BvoBXa  Avaiov, 
<f>piKaX€ov  y€X6a}v  KopuOaidXos  iwent  Ilcpacu?*       •"* 


*  The  only  reason  whv  ther  are  anned  with  llieae  old 

weapons  is  to  let  Nonnos  show  his  knowledsv  of  the  ksendary 
kinffs  of  Argas.  Danaos  apiwinntly  slfrnaTled  with  hb nrofd 
to  his  daughters  to  set  upon  their  husbands.  For  the 
412 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  570-595 

Lynceus,  one  the  spear  of  Phoroneus  more  ancient 
still,  one  that  of  Pelasgos,  one  carried  on  his  arm  the 
oxhide  of  Abas,  and  the  ashplant  of  Proitos,  another 
bore  the  quiver  of  Acrisios;  this  bold  man  stood  up 
to  fight  holding  the  sword  of  Danaos,  which  once 
he  raised  naked  when  he  armed  his  daughters  for 
those  husband-murdering  bridals  ;  another  again 
grasped  the  great  axe  which  Inachos  held  to  strike  the 
bulls'  foreheads,  when  he  stood  as  the  inspired  priest 
of  Hera  Cityholder."  The  battlestirring  host  behind 
their  prancing  teams  ran  with  Perseus  to  the  field ; 
and  he  stood  before  them  shouting  the  warcry  with 
harsh  voice,  on  foot  himself,  and  shook  back  the 
rounded  quiver  over  his  shoulder,  and  fitted  arrows  to 
curving  bow.  Perseus  of  the  sickle  was  champion  of 
the  Argives  ;  he  fitted  his  feet  into  the  flying  shoes, 
and  he  Hfted  up  the  head  of  Medusa  which  no  eyes 
may  see. 

^^"^  But  lobacchos  marshalled  his  women  with  flow- 
ing locks,  and  Satyrs  with  horns.  Wild  for  battle  he 
was  when  he  saw  the  winged  champion  coursing 
through  the  air.  The  thyrsus  was  held  up  in  his  hand, 
and  to  defend  his  face  he  carried  a  diamond,  the  gem 
made  stone  in  the  showers  of  Zeus  which  protects 
against  the  stony  glare  of  Medusa,  that  the  baleful 
light  of  that  destroying  face  may  do  him  no  harm.*^ 

^^*  And  Flashhelm  Perseus  when  he  saw  the 
ranks  of  the  Bassarids  and  the  gear  of  Lyaios, 
laughed  terribly  and  cried — 

see  Rose,  Handbook  of  Greek  Mythology,  p.  272.  For  a  like 
list,  see  Statius,  Theb.  iv.  589  flp. 

"  Probably  Dionysos  protects  himself  with  a  diamond 
because  this  stone  venena  vincit  atque  inritafacit  et  lympha- 
tiones  abigit  metusque  vanos  expellit  a  mente^  Pliny  N.H. 
xxxvii.  61. 

413 


NONNOS 

"  *mvs  6  dvpaov  €xwv,  x^P^  fi^^» 

ovrtSai^t;  nrr^Xoioi  Kopvaatai,  'Apta  ira^oir* 

61  Atoy  €AAa;fC9  atfui,  rtifw  av6t^aw€  ytviBXrpf 

€i  TTora/iou  xP^*^^  *X*^^  ricurTcuAior  tSScup, 

Xpvaov  c^cu  ycreTi7pa,  iran^p  5'  ^/i^  C4tu>s  Zcvf  *  600 

Xtuftava  K€lva  ^povra  pvrf^€i4<fs  M^cimo. 

oAAa  ^v/c  KAin-oi'  'Apyof,  iwtl  fMVf5i{iOf  'If/ny 

eAAa^cv  ISpava  ratha  rrfjf  ^Xhtipa  Ttttovar/f, 

fA-q  a€  rov  olarpfTfaavTa  tcaX  oUrrfrMrm  rtXdaajj,    60f 

fiT^  a€  TToAif  iiavlji  r€0O($tfM4po¥  imk  ¥Oifjow.*' 

*Q9  flnwv  npofidxil€V'  da^twroifiat  M  B^irxof 
"Apca  d(op'q(aaa  koi  d^iirnfM  VMoAnff 
'Hpr)  nai>hafidr€ipa'  tcartufuatrnvoa  hi  B((#(xov 
dartpowrjs  pifirjfAa,  $€6aavro¥  aXXotuvcv  wOp,         610 
pi^c  K-ard  Bpofuoio  atXaa^^6po¥  aWowa  Xiy^[ijv, 

"  Ov  rooov  aarpairrovatxv  /x**^  aatbrjpov  oicoMn;!'- 
ov  Suixxaai  kAo»'<<iv  /i€,  kcu  €i  A<i;(C9  tfXTrvpov  tuxf^^v- 
ovSc  fi€  Tnjfiaivti  art  porn)  Au>f  *  i^furcA^  yd/)  615 

vrirnov  tiGtri  Yiajcxpv  ixvrXuHTayTo  Ktpauvoi 
d<f>X€y€9  daSfia  x^ovrti  dbrfXi^fp  AiOVMT^. 
Kol  (TV  iiiya  4>pov€wv  hpt-navrMpt  irai^o  l\€po€v- 
Topryovos  ov  p4>6o9  ovrog  oXi^oyof,  ov  fila  yvp4'l 
*Avhpofi€hr)  PapvS^GfJLo^  dtdXufV'  aXXa  Avaltp  620 

hrjpiv  dyct?,  09  Xrji^  cj^ci  y^vos,  fp  vort  poww 
'Pciiy  fia^ov  6p€^€  <f>€p€apiov,  ov  TTort  irvpoip 
darcpoirfj^  yap.lrj^  fjLaiwaaro  fittXixh  ^^^» 
ov  SvGiSt  ov  6dfiPj)<T€v  *E<oa^po9,  4»  ^"'^y  'IvSdfv 
eucadov,  ov  rpofidojv  icoi  Arjpid&rj^  Koi    Opovrtjs     625 

414 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  596-625 

^^®  "  It's  nice  to  see  you  there  ^\1th  that  thyrsus, 
that  greenleaf  shaft,  inarching  against  me  armed 
with  your  wretched  foHage,  playing  at  war  !  If  you 
have  in  you  the  blood  of  Zeus,  show  your  breeding ! 
If  you  have  the  water  of  golden  Pactolos  River,  I  have 
a  golden  Father — my  father  is  Zeus  of  the  Rains. 
See  the  crimson  foundations  of  my  mother's  chamber, 
still  keeping  relics  of  that  snowstorm  of  wealth  !  Go, 
flee  now  from  famous  Argos,  since  these  buildings 
belong  to  steadfast  Hera,  your  mother's  destroyer, 
lest  she  make  you  the  maddener  mad,  lest  I  see  you 
once  more  driven  with  frenzy  at  last." 

^'  He  spoke,  and  advanced  to  the  fight.  All- 
vanquishing  Hera  marshalled  the  battle,  and  scat- 
tered the  Bacchants  with  Medusa's  reaper;  she  dashed 
upon  Bacchos  Uke  the  lightning,  a  godsent  leaping 
fire,  and  cast  at  Bromios  her  gleaming  flashing 
lance.  But  Dionysos  laughing  replied  in  a  wild 
voice — 

613  **  Not  so  much  of  a  flash  you  make  in  that 
blade  of  yours,  with  no  iron  ;  you  cannot  scare  me, 
though  your  point  is  on  fire  !  Even  the  lightning 
of  Zeus  does  not  hurt  me ;  for  when  I  was  half-made 
and  still  a  baby  the  thunders  bathed  me,  pouring 
breath  which  burnt  not  upon  inviolate  Dionysos.  You 
too,  Perseus  of  the  sickle,  proud  as  you  are,  make 
an  end !  This  is  no  battle  for  a  feeble  Gorgon,  the 
prize  is  not  a  lone  girl  in  heavy  chains,  Andromeda. 
Lyaios  is  your  enemy,  the  offspring  of  Zeus,  to 
whom  alone  long  ago  Rheia  offered  the  Ufe-giving 
breast ;  for  whom  long  ago  the  flame  of  marriage- 
lightning  was  a  gentle  midwife  ;  the  admiration 
of  East  and  of  West,  before  whom  the  armies  of 
India  gave  way  ;  at  whom  Deriades  trembled,  and 

415 


NONNOS 

riXiPdrcav  a-niXtdpov  cxcuv  r»*5aA^  HyiUTraw 
ripi'n€v,  w  Opaavs  ' AAnoy  xmanckaaw,  Ms  *Apo6pfff, 
ayxiV€if>€^  n€pifi€rpov  ivtov  h^fiaf,  ^  yimt  ircmtrTrt 
\aJos  "Apoi/i,  — iifcAo^  si  /i<Ai{rrai  tla^rt  vavrrjs 
Tvpfrqvwv  voOov  €tSoi  aXiBpofi€¥,  cSr  irorv  §iop^%'  «jo 
dvhpofi€r)v  rjp€iilfa  fitrdrpofn^,  cM  M  ^orrc^r 
lx0v€s  opx^crrfjp€9  intaicalpovat  &aXia9Ji. 
6-qPrj^  5*  cTrraYTvAou  yooi'  €kXv€9'  oC  at  hM(iM» 
alvofjLoyij  l\€v$TJa  koI  «JlfXtaiT4Kva¥  *Ayauip^* 
^M^  ^*  *^^  x^r/c&(  ^  uApTttpof,  am  Avaiov        m 
7r€iprj&Tj  T€6y    Apyof,  *Axai4a5c(  ft^  ical  aimu 
otfKoiripa^  whlva^  m  Qrii^x^wn  yvvoZircf . 
oAAa,  ^IXos,  YroA€fu{c,  mil  oiXfi'^^C^''*^  KOpypifioii 
oiio^aci;  '''<^X^  Baxvov,  art  irrtpa  ouo  wMXanf 
O0CCU  appay€€QO%¥  ifiotg  curoKra  Kotf^jpiKOtr*  ^Ifl 

ov  TTorc  BaaaapihofP  aircSooccr  iMov,  ov  irorc  Ai^cu 
ntfirrtjv  oiyoTra  Svpaw,  ton  rtiv  'Apytl  h€i(tu 
€yx^i  Kia<rq€VTi  ntnapfUvov  dv6€p€a>va 
Kal  hp€iTavov  YTCToAotf  viKa>fi€vov'  ov  a€  aaupa€i 
Zev?  €fjL6^,  ov  yXavKumi^  ofLoyvtog,  od  ai$€V  *Uprj,  641 
icat  pAXa  TTip  Korlovoa  p^vtirroXifUp  Aiorvo^* 
oAAd  KaraKT€ivcj  a€,  tcox  ai);|fi^a(7a  MtHOTny 
o^crat  afirfd^vra  rov  afiriTrjpa  McSoucn/f  * 
rj  a€  7T€pta<l>iY(ag  cVi  Xapvojci  fuc^oia  Scofu^ 
TrAcoTow  QKot^i^cu  ac  TO  Scurc/MV  i^a5i  inW^*        65C 
riv  5*  i6€Xr]s,  €TTi^r]di  rc^f  troAiv  o^  Y»€pi^ov. 
•qv  he  Tfirj  XP^^^V  P'fyoXi^€ai  offt^  ytv^BAff, 
ovTiSavrji'  awdedXov  c^c  XP*'*'^  * AJ^pohirqv ." 

"Q?  €t7ra>v  TTpopdxit.ev'  ttr€arpaT6ofVTO  5<  B<u9^, 
#cai  Zarvpot  TroAc/it^ov.     vircp  Bpo/uov  5c  uro^yi^u  6H 
aWvoawv  -nrepd  Koviffa  fierdpaioi  iTrraro  Uepoeik' 
wjjcjoas  S'  'Io)3a#f;(09  coi'  Sefias,  al0€pi  ytirtov 
416 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  626-657 

Orontes  with  his  towering  giant-stature  fell  ;  to 
whom  bold  Alpos  bent  his  knee,  that  son  of  Earth 
with  huge  body  rising  near  the  clouds  ;  to  whom 
the  Arabian  nation  kneels  down,  and  the  Sicilian 
mariner  still  sings  the  changeling  shape  of  sea- 
scouring  Tyrrhenian  pirates,  when  once  I  trans- 
formed their  human  bodies  and  now  instead  of  men 
they  are  fishes  dancing  and  leaping  in  the  sea. 

633  "  You  have  heard  the  groaning  of  sevengate 
Thebes  ;  I  need  not  remind  you  of  Pentheus  in  dire 
madness  and  Agaue  who  slew  her  child  ;  you  need  no 
tale  or  witness  how  your  Argos  has  felt  Lyaios,  and 
the  wives  of  Achaia  themselves  are  still  mourning  for 
their  children.  Very  well,  fight,  my  friend,  and  soon 
you  shall  praise  Bacchos  with  his  weapons  of  leafage, 
when  you  see  the  wings  of  your  shoes  yielding  to  my 
unconquerable  buskins.  Never  shall  you  scatter  my 
battling  Bassarids,  never  will  I  cease  casting  my  vine- 
wand,  until  I  show  Argos  your  throat  pierced  by  my 
spear  of  ivy  and  your  sickle  beaten  by  my  leaves. 
Zeus  my  father  will  not  save  you,  nor  Brighteyes  my 
sister,  nor  your  own  Hera,  however  she  hates  the 
steadfast  Dionysos  :  but  I  will  kill  you,  and  boastful 
Mycene  shall  see  beheaded  the  man  who  beheaded 
Medusa.  Or  I  will  bind  you  in  a  chest  with  greater 
bonds,  and  throw  you  to  float  again  on  the  sea  you 
know  so  well  ;  you  may  land  again  at  Seriphos  by  and 
by,  if  you  like.  If  you  are  so  proud  of  your  golden 
birth,  you  may  take  the  golden  Aphrodite,  that  good- 
for-nothing,  to  help  you." 

654  When  he  had  ended,  he  went  on  fighting  :  the 
Bacchants  fell  to,  the  Satyrs  joined  the  battle.  Over 
the  head  of  Bromios  Perseus  flew  in  the  air,  flapping 
his  light  wings  ;  but  lobacchos  lifted  his  body  and 

VOL.  Ill  2  E  417 


NONNOS 

airr€po^  v^uc€\€vSo^  d€ip€ro  fui^otft  rapa<^ 
iTrrafi^vov  n€p<rfjo9  imdprtpo^,  4wrair6pt(»  W 
aWdpi  X^^P^  TTtXaaatt  »cai  w/xiXffa€v  *OXvfinift,         aW 
icoi  vtfiXa^  €$Xult€'  ^fi<f>  5*  ^Ai{rro  lit p<nvf 
Scf tTc^f  ojcix^ov  onintvufv  AunoMTOv 
rjiXlov  tffavovaav,  €^nrofi4tnffv  5^  ocAi^Ki^. 

*AAAd  Xinwv  ^iowaov  ifLOptwro  dmam  B<ur)^f 
KoX  naXafin  bov€wv  6avarrf^i6po¥  6§MAia  Mc5ovai^    §85 
Xcuv€rjv  Tronic  KopvoaofUym  *Apuwtniif* 
Kal  trXtov  tPp€fjL€  Udicxos  iw¥  mrptSita  PfSfjb^v 
Koi  vu  K€v  'Ajyyof  hrtpat  koI  irtpnrfin^t  Mvuny^if 
icat  Aai^actii'  rifitfatv  oXnv  arixfi,  irou  yfi  tnv  ovr^v 
fjLapvafUyrjv  ayvuHm¥  cuvuraror  oimuMV  'Hfttf^      070 
/xdrrios'  dvrtrviroio  M^  fiporo€ib4i  fiop^jj, 

€t  p.'q  ynv  KaronioBt  ^avtus  imp6€vrt  nthiXtp 

XpVG€irjs  nXoKaiu&oi  tXa/v  optatipaotv  'E^^, 

Kai  fiiv  aX€(u<ajc<p  ^iXUp  fuiXlfaro  pLvBtp'  ,>7f 

"  TLr^vos  yvTioiov  al^ia,  v6do^  (ijAi^fuwof  *\\pr)';, 
otada  p.€v,  <o$-  a€  adwaa  bunrrdwv  ano  nvpoutp, 
Kal  a€  \apov  TnyrofLoio  Bvyarpaaw 

amaaa  NtSfi^ai^ 

6M7CTI    KOVpi^Oirra,    TToXiV   Sd  0€   X^pOiM   OfipUtV 

€19  ^ofiov  vfi€T€pTjg  KovpOTpoSov  rjyayoif  *Iw)U9-        aso 
fcat  av  r€ii>  purfjpi  <f>€pa»v  X^H***'  ^^^  Maiifs, 
yva>Tc,  fidx^v  €uvr)aov  ofioyvtov'  dfL^6r€pot,  yap 
Ucpoevs  Koi  Ai6woo9  cw  pXdaTrjfia  roKrjos' 
fir^  arparov  'A/xyctcuv,  fxrj  p4p^o  l\€po4o^  dpmjv 
ov  yap  €Kajv  cy  "Aprja  Kopwrutrai'  dXXd  fiw  'H^n^  att 
amXiae,  fiavrirroXov  h€  McAa/iiroSos*  cJSci  fiop^ijs 
fiapvarai  dfufioZir^v  av  §€  X^i^^  &^/hv  iaaas, 

418 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  658-687 

rose  wingless  on  high  near  to  the  heavens  with  larger 
hmbs  over  flying  Perseus,  and  brought  his  hand  near 
the  sevenring  sky,  and  touched  Olympos,  and  crushed 
the  clouds  :  Perseus  quivered  with  fear  as  he  saw  the 
right  hand  of  Dionysos  out  of  reach  and  touching  the 
sun,  catching  hold  of  the  moon. 

^^  So  he  left  Dionysos  and  fought  with  the  mad 
Bacchants.  He  shook  in  his  hand  the  deadly  face  of 
Medusa,  and  turned  armed  Ariadne  into  stone. 
Bacchos  was  even  more  furious  when  he  saw  his  bride 
all  stone.  He  would  have  sacked  Argos  and  razed 
Mycene  to  the  ground  and  mowed  down  the  whole 
host  of  Danaans,  yes  even  wounded  invulnerable  Hera 
herself,  who  was  fighting  unrecognized  in  the  false 
borrowed  shape  of  a  mortal,  a  seer,  and  Swiftshoe 
Perseus  would  have  perished,  fate  or  no  fate, — but 
Hermes  appeared  behind  him  with  winged  shoes  and 
pulled  him  back  by  his  golden  hair,  and  calmed  him 
with  friendly  words  to  avert  the  ruin  : 

676  "  Trueborn  offspring  of  Zeus,  if  bastard  for 
jealous  Hera  !  You  know  how  I  saved  you  from  the 
fires  that  fell  from  heaven,  and  entrusted  you  to  those 
Nymphs,  the  daughters  of  river  Lamos,**  when  still  a 
Uttle  child ;  how  again  I  carried  you  in  my  arms  to  the 
house  of  Ino  your  fostering  nurse.  Then  show  grati- 
tude, my  brother,  to  your  saviour  the  son  of  Maia,  and 
still  this  feud  of  brothers — for  both  Perseus  and 
Dionysos  are  offspring  of  one  sire.  Do  not  reproach 
the  people  of  Argos,  nor  the  sickle  of  Perseus,  for  he 
arms  not  willingly  for  this  war.  But  Hera  has  armed 
him,  and  she  is  fighting  openly  in  the  shape  of  the  seer 
Melampus.     Retire  and  leave  the  strife,  or  Hera  irre- 

"  Cf.  ix.  28.  Only  Nonnos  mentions  this  obscure  river-god 
(of  Helicon,  cf.  Fans.  ix.  31.  7)  as  father  of  Dionysos's  nurses. 

419 


NONNOS 

fiij  aoi  €nippia€i€  irdXiy  bvafi^fxaofot  'Hpif. 
oAA*  ^/>^ccf  aX^xoio  T€^  ft6po¥'  t^Xit  n^TfUft   • 
fiapvafUvrj  riBvrjKt,  av  hi  ^Bmimfv  'Aptdiinp^         6M 
aHfKX€s  oXPiC€iv,  oTi  n^Auror  €6p€  ^o%^ 
ovpavir)^  ycyaorra  Koi  od  /StpOTn|f  ^ir^  ^t^Ai^, 
KTjT€os  dfirp-fjpa  Koi  ImnrotoHO  Mf^otfaiyy 

Kar^ai^i'  *llA<'jcr/yi}  Aiof  €Mns,  ^X^to  8    ai>rn     tt.' 
Toi  Au  yvfu^udtiaa  «rcunyn^  a^o  K(£5aov 
EvpcuTTiy  /xcrd  XtKTpov  *OXvfAtno¥,  vfimfni  &« 
ctacri  yaarpl  ^'povaa  rtov  rotcov  cmActo  ^ifnip' 
ov  ^tfitXrj  TTpo  fiopow  wvXoii  indpnrfo^w  'OAtf^vov, 
ciAA*  ore  noTfiov  cd€«rro.     ircu  oAAuyiini  o«^  ^^^h'4''l  ^^ 

IlAeio^o;  inranopoio  ^<ur/jamu  iyySm  Ma^. 
ri  rrXiov  ij$€X(v  oAAo  ^iXairtpov  if  x!^o^  XdfAntuf 
aWipa  vai€niovaa  fKrii  Kfijrrjy  *AptAiyfi: 
oAAd  <jw  KarOfo  $vpao¥,  ca  5*  aWfiOMFir  'Eantw,      705 
#cai  ppiras  avToriXfOTOv  hnjfiovir^  *Apiabyrjs, 
ovpavirjs  an^pifov  oirg  fipirai  larami  *H/nyy. 
ft17  TToAtV  €KTT€pO€i«XS,  &7rjf  a4$€¥  oXtuk  roic/jHif¥,  f 

v^€T€pTjs  &c  y€paip€  pooKpaipov  ir<dor  *Io^ 
ciHojaaj  aco  Ovpaov  *Axaua&as  hi  yvt'ducas  IV  > 

alv7JG€l9  /XCTOTTtO^CV,   €WC4   ravp(tfff-i5(X  *Hf>i79 
Pwp.6v  di'acrrqGovai  kcu  €vdaXafiov  aio  vvfi^vf^J" 
Tolov  cTTos"  icarcAefc,  #f04  iinnov  'Apyof  idoas 
€t9  TioAov  airri9  u<av€v,  in*  ofi^oripotai  K€pdaoas 
dcGfiov  6p.o<f>poavvTjs  K-Gu  flcpo^i  ircu  AiOia^(7o>.         715 
ovhi  fJL€v  avToBi  fiifiv€v  iiri  yfiivov  'ApyoAi$>  *Hp^' 
oAAd  p,€TaaTp€ipaGa  voSrjv  pporo€ihia  fiop^r^ 

*  Because  Pegasos  sprang  from  her  headleia  trunk. 
420 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  688-717 

concilable  may  overwhelm  you  again  in  her  might.  But 
you  will  urge  the  fate  of  your  bride.  She  has  died  in 
battle,  a  glorious  fate,  and  you  ought  to  think  Ariadne 
happy  in  her  death,  because  she  found  one  so  great  to 
slay  her,  one  sprung  from  heaven  and  of  no  mortal 
stock,  one  who  killed  the  seamonster  and  beheaded 
horsebreeding  "  Medusa.  The  Fates'  threads  obey 
not  persuasion.  For  Electra  died,  the  bedfellow  of 
heavenly  Zeus ;  Europa  herself  disappeared  after  the 
Olympian  bed,  the  sister  of  your  Cadmos,  she  who 
was  wedded  to  Zeus ;  your  mother  perished  too,  while 
she  still  carried  you  in  her  womb  ;  Semele  entered 
not  the  gates  of  Olympos  before  death,  but  after  she 
had  received  her  fate.  And  your  bride  even  in  death 
shall  enter  the  starspangled  sky,  and  she  will  be  seen 
near  Maia  my  mother  among  the  seven  travelling 
Pleiads.  What  could  Ariadne  wish  more  welcome 
than  to  live  in  the  heavens  and  give  light  to  the 
earth,  after  Crete  ?  Come  now,  lay  down  your 
thyrsus,  let  the  winds  blow  battle  away,  and  fix  the 
selfmade  image  of  mortal  Ariadne  where  the  image 
of  heavenly  Hera  stands.  Do  not  sack  the  city 
where  the  stock  of  your  parents  remains,  but  still 
your  thyrsus,  and  respect  the  country  of  cowhorn 
lo.  You  will  praise  the  women  of  Achaia  by  and 
by,  when  they  shall  build  an  altar  to  bullface  ^  Hera 
and  your  charming  bride." 

■^13  So  he  spoke,  and  leaving  Argos  the  land  of 
horses  returned  to  the  sky,  after  he  had  mingled  a 
league  of  friendship  between  Perseus  and  Dionysos. 
Nor  did  Argive  Hera  remain  long  in  that  place  ;  but 
putting  off  her  pretended  mortal  body  she  took  her 

^  The  Homeric  jSocDttij,  which,  though  Nonnos  cannot  have 
known  that,  probably  did  originally  mean  "  cow-faced." 

421 


NONNOS 

\vyK€os  dpxtyovoio  6toMo9  al^  ricAaayoC*         ">' 

"  M€u^i7rdA<^  7r€i0€a6€  koI  owom  atlaart  Uojcxo* 
a€iaar€  xaXK€a  poirrpa  tccu  Evta  rv^inufa    Ptitfi, 

/ii^  ^rd  injnta  r^Kva  koI  ^firirfjpas  iXkfV^, 

firf  r€K€cav  firrd  rrorfiov  diroirrc6«u  yvKoara;*  72-' 

oAAd  BurjnoXLTjv  dtortpnia  p^fart  BoiC}^ 

#rai  Au,  iroi  Utpcnji  xoptvoart  Koi  ^iO¥vai{>." 

BaK^;(ai  ia;#rrixop<froy  atfOKpo^orrts  dotZn/jji^t 
Kol  TcAcrdff  <rn/aavro*  ^o«rAi(ny  5^  X9P*^  730 

poTrrpa  fi€v  tnXaniYffatv,  intKporriomo  W  rapaot, 
Kai  hatS^^  acAdyifov*  6firjytp^€i  W  woATtoa 
fivoTinoXa}  XP^^^^^  nofii^ia  Acv«r<(5i  yvifiip' 
TVfinava  5*  €vhxTaYfto€v,  apaaaofUvoiO  Si  x'^^^ 
bucnmog  €/3p€/ic  Soimcx*  i^oufUnmrro  hk  Puf§i€l      736 
aif>a^ofi€vcjv  (rroixrfiov  hraamn4puf¥  air6  TOilyMM^, 
Kr€iv€ro  5*  aoTrcra  /x^Aa*  ircu  a»^p€S  aldom  Pcjfiw 
BcLKxov  ifieiXifain-o  koI  iXaatcovro  ywauctf 
Koi  /xcAo?  rj€p6<f>oiTov  cWicnwc  9^Av9  Ultf^ 
Kcjfiov  afi€iPofji€vrj  ^todypiov,  'Iva^^^  ^  ^^ 

McumScs"  ippupavTO  Xadi^pova  Xuaaay  difrou;. 


462 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVII.  718-741 

divine  form  and  returned  to  Olympos.  Then  old 
Melampus  addressed  the  Icarian  host,  he  the  offspring 
of  divine  Pelasgian  Lynceus  founder  of  the  race  : — 

^21  **  Obey  your  seer,  and  shake  your  tambours  in 
honour  of  wineface  Bacchos,  shake  your  bronze  tam- 
bours and  the  Euian  cymbals  of  Rheia,  that  he  may 
not  \vipe  out  the  whole  Inachian  race,  that  he  may 
not  destroy  the  young  men  after  the  little  children, 
that  he  may  not  kill  the  wives  after  their  offspring. 
Come,  do  sacrifice  to  Bacchos  and  Zeus,  and  please 
the  god's  heart,  and  dance  before  Perseus  and 
Dionysos." 

^27  They  did  as  he  bade  them.  The  people 
gathered  together,  and  struck  up  a  song  with  nightly 
dances  for  Bacchos  and  performed  the  holy  rites  :  in 
the  pious  dance  the  tambours  rattled,  the  feet  beat 
the  ground,  the  torches  blazed.  All  the  people  in 
company  smeared  their  cheeks  with  white  mystic 
chalk.**  Kettledrums  rattled,  the  double  tap  sounded 
as  the  bronze  was  beaten.  Altars  were  red  with 
bulls  slaughtered  in  rows  one  after  another,  a  multi- 
tude of  sheep  were  killed.  At  the  burning  altar  men 
made  their  peace  with  Bacchos,  women  won  his 
grace.  Women's  voices  resounded  in  the  air  echoing 
in  turn  the  song  of  salvation  ;  Inachian  women  and 
Mainad  women  cast  their  deluding  fury  to  the  winds. 

«  Heard  of  now  and  again  in  such  connexions,  see  e.g. 
Aristophanes,  Clouds  261,  and  the  scholiast  there.  It  was 
a  means  of  purification,  presumably  because  of  its  colour. 


AIONTXIAKilN   IKlilAPAKOSTON 
OPAOON 

UaXXi^vrjv  St  o6tC€V€  koI  ^nvaXfqf  r6KO¥  Mpnrjf. 

Avrap  6  TTopSaXiary  hroxflfUvof  canrvyt  U^pov 
BprnKij)  ntpl^iTos  iKw§uun  Bdtcxos  ^^^* 
iTmiov  dpx€y6vou>  ^pu/vios  iMat  idaas, 
ovht  x^Aoi'  nprjwt  iraAiyiroror  'Imix^  '^Pl 
"kpytos  oi(TTpr)9^vT09,  'AxoudJU^f  W  y^fmucaty       6 
XvGGTjs  ^vijaTiv  txpvofi  iraAiv  ^utpf^aatTO  B<£k)^^. 
Koi  SoXias  dv€4tatv€  Aira;  nofifLrfropi  Taiji, 
€pya  A(09  poouMja  koI  rjvopirpf  ^UHfVOOV 
rrjy€v€cjv  oXtaavro^  dfierpr/rta^  v4^0i  'Ii^Scdr* 
KoX  Sc/xcAt^s"  ore  irouSa  ^p^aptof  €kXv€  inirrip        lo 
*Iv8onyj/  Taxvnorfiov  durrutaavTa  ytviBXtlv, 
fjLvr)Gafi€vr)  t€K€wv  nXtov  cotcfo    ^4^  ^  BcMf;(<^ 
avToyovwv  Bcoprj^cv  opiSpofia  ^vXa  Viydirrwif, 
wfnX6<t>ovs  €o  iratSa?  dpoiorp/i/jaaaa  tcvSotfuft' 

UatBes  €fiol,  fidpixLoBt  KOpVfJifio^>6p<p  Aiovuaai  16 
rjXipaTois  GKOTTtXoiaiv,  ^V^  ^*  oXtrrjpa  ytvdSXrfs 
*lvho<f>6vov  Atos^  via  KixT^oart'  /iT/3<  i^ffaai 
ovv  Au  KOipavdovra  vodov  oKrjnrovxov  'OAu/xttow, 
424 


BOOK  XLVIII 

In  the  forty-eighth,  seek  the  blood  of  the  giants,  and 

look  out  for  Pallene  and  the  son  of 

sleeping  Aura. 

Now  Bacchos  quitted  the  horsebreeding  soil  of  ancient 
Phoroneus,**  and  mounted  in  his  round  car  behind 
the  team  of  panthers  passed  in  revelry  over  the 
Thracian  land.  But  Inachian  Hera  had  not  softened 
her  rancorous  rage  for  Argos  maddened ;  she  remem- 
bered the  frenzy  of  the  Achaian  women  and  prepared 
again  to  attack  Bacchos.  She  addressed  her  deceitful 
prayers  to  Allmother  Earth,  crying  out  upon  the 
doings  of  Zeus  and  the  valour  of  Dionysos,  who  had 
destroyed  that  cloud  of  numberless  earthborn 
Indians  ;  and  when  the  lifebringing  mother  heard 
that  the  son  of  Semele  had  wiped  out  the  Indian 
nation  with  speedy  fate,  she  groaned  still  more 
thinking  of  her  children.  Then  she  armed  all  round 
Bacchos  the  mount ainranging  tribes  of  giants,  earth's 
own  brood,  and  goaded  her  huge  sons  to  battle  : 

1^  "  My  sons,  make  your  attack  with  hightowering 
rocks  against  clustergarlanded  Dionysos — catch  this 
Indianslayer,  this  destroyer  of  my  family,  this  son 
of  Zeus,  and  let  me  not  see  him  ruling  with  Zeus  a 

<*  Argos,  of  which  Phoroneus,  son  of  Inachos,  was  the 
(mythical)  first  king. 

425 


N0NN08 

B-qaar€,  S^ootc  Bojcxov,  onuti  BaXofLffn^Xof  c&y, 
OTnrm  Uopt^vpuvvi  xa/>c{o/iai  tlf  Y*^ifW¥  *Hj9i|r      •> 
Kal  Xdoviw  Kv0€p€uiVt  oT€  yXajumUmw  aniam 

d(ar€  fioi  ^loyvaov,  Tva  Kpovuafwi  x^iXli^ 

SouXoiivvrjv  opowirra  hopum^froio  Avalov* 

•q€  fuv  oiVraJoi^cy  aXoirfrrjoi  ot&rjfMft  2* 

i)  ^€09  ^  fitpomov  Tif,  on  K^Kiv^Sao  yt^Xfi 
TaXa  xf>Xt*>ofi€VT)  Sc^vfiovr  Biopffft  ^ovijaf, 
7Tp€GPvrtpoif^  Tcn7i^f  M  itpotript^  ^iiC¥VOW, 
oirXortpov^  &€   rcyavray  ^*  iffnyitHf  tkMlfiot^**    *> 

r7jY€V€wv  5^  ^oAayyc;  ht€arpaT6onno  tcvooift^, 
OS*  /i^  ^;((('i'  Nucratov  MBXiov,  St  hi  atl^ptp 

alxfJLa^ojv  OKoirtXoiaiy  iSutp^X^  Aiowoiy  W 

os^  5c  Ao^i*  nrrpaZov  dXucfntm&ot  apovpTjf, 

aXXos  dXi^wvoio  Siapfmfat  P^X^  laOfioO 

€iV  €vx}7rr)v  coTTcvScv.    afirrpnToun  5*  dyoorotf 

riT^Atoi/  v*ltu<aprjvov  €anriKOvrti€   flcAftupcv; 

yvyivujoas  ^Mprj^  yXa^pov  bofwv  ajma§Ui^av  5^  40 

da/c€7rco?  OKOir^Xoio  yipotv  IXuXJUtro  Xc^fMtfT, 

dvSpo<f)vr)^  aTeAeoTo?  cJ/xr^Aiifi  crvfiirAoiro;  iTrir^. 

r)fi€piSojv  8c  Kopv^iftov  €x<*»v  oXerfjpa  Viyatrrum 

BoK^^os-  a€paiXo<l>oio  #far^/>c;fcv  'AA^ruoi'^o;, 

oi)  8dpu  Bovpov  €x<oVt  ov  ^ivi€v  iop  dtiputy,  46 

dAAd  TToXvcmepcas  TraAd/xaj  cScu^c  riycunxtfv, 

aLXH^^ojv  cAiVcaat-  <(nXat(pi^(p  &<  ircn^A^ 

<f>piKra  7r€SoTp€ff>€wi'  i^nt^ero  ^vXa  Spatc6yTa)V 

*  The  masculine  names  bdoag  to  Giants. 
426 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  19-48 

bastard  monarch  of  Olympos  !  Bind  him,  bind 
Bacchos  fast,  that  he  may  attend  in  the  chamber 
when  I  bestow  Hebe  on  Porphyrion  as  a  wife,  and 
give  Cythereia  to  Chthonios,  when  I  sing  Bright- 
eyes  the  bedfellow  of  Encelados,  and  Artemis  of 
Alcyoneus.^*  Bring  Dionysos  to  me,  that  I  may 
enrage  Cronion  when  he  sees  Lyaios  a  slave  and 
the  captive  of  my  spear.  Or  wound  him  with 
cutting  steel  and  kill  him  for  me  like  Zagreus,  that 
one  may  say,  god  or  mortal,  that  Earth  in  her 
anger  has  twice  armed  her  slayers  against  the  breed 
of  Cronides — the  older  Titans  against  the  former 
Dionysos,  the  younger  Giants  against  Dionysos  later 
born." 

31  With  these  words  she  excited  all  the  host  of  the 
Giants,  and  the  battalions  of  the  Earthborn  set  forth 
to  war,  one  bearing  a  bulwark  of  Nysa,  one  who  had 
sliced  off  with  steel  the  flank  of  a  cloudhigh  preci- 
pice, each  with  these  rocks  for  missiles  armed  him 
against  Dionysos ;  one  hastened  to  the  conflict  bearing 
the  rocky  hill  of  some  land  with  its  base  in  the  brine, 
another  with  a  reef  torn  from  a  brinegirt  isthmus. 
Peloreus  took  up  Pelion  with  hightowering  peak  as 
a  missile  in  his  innumerable  arms,  and  left  the  cave 
of  Philyra  ^  bare  :  as  the  rocky  roof  of  his  cave  was 
pulled  off,  old  Cheiron  quivered  and  shook,  that  figure 
of  half  a  man  growing  into  a  comrade  horse.  But 
Bacchos  held  a  bunch  of  giantsbane  vine,  and  ran  at 
Alcyoneus  with  the  mountain  upraised  in  his  hands  : 
he  wielded  no  furious  lance,  no  deadly  sword,  but 
he  struck  with  his  bunch  of  tendrils  and  shore  off 
the  multitudinous  hands  of  the  Giants  ;  the  terrible 
swarms  of  groundbred  serpents  were  shorn  off  by 

*  Wife  of  Cheiron  the  wise  centaur. 

427 


NONNOS 

Krtiv^ro  h*  dairrra  ^vXa'  haXJ^MtivfMMf  hk  1  i/ut-ru^ 
cufuiro;  dcvooir  TrorofUM  piov,  apnxOroit  Si 
7rop<f>vp€ois  poSLoioiv  i^owiaoQuno  yap^t^poi. 

poarpvxa,  Stifiaivoirrtf  ^x^^^^'^^^H^'^  AuMWtov.  86 

Kou  TTu/M  fidf/varo  Bo/cxoy*  ^(  ^P*^  5aAoi^  idXXut¥ 
dvTipiwv  oXrrnpa-  5i*  wfnffdpov  0€  KtXtvSov 
BojCYtds  avTotXucTos  MrpfxV^  iXXo§Uini  4^6^, 
yviopopoi  antvBrjpi  tearataaovoa  VtydifTmir 
Koi  ri9  (ZTrciAYTrnpi  ^dptim  oiKat  hStptS^  M 

i7/u5ai7(  avpc^c  opOMtunf  wptBa^mik  Aoifi^, 

Kai  icAdvD?  doTrrro;  ^cy*  ^*  wmfUa¥  Zk  ita^ifMtfr 
BaK;(Osr  dvjftoprjiro  fia)njfufva  baXiw  d/^pot¥, 
KoX  ydovit^  npTjarijpi  o^uaf  $4pfiaMP€  itydrrMT       M 
dvTLTxmov  fiifiTjpa  Ato/SXi^roto  Ktpawov' 
Kal  SmSc;  acAdyij^ov*  /tt*  *EyiccAa3ov  3^  ira^nfiY 
iJc/Kx  depfialitnv  cAcAi{|cTO  irvpoof  aAiJn^* 
oAAd  /uv  ouK  c5a/xaaoc,  irai  oi;  )(6ainov  wpof  drfup 
*EyK€A<i5o9  yo^i;  Kofu/Kv,  circi  irc^uAoMTO  fCfpovi^.  70 
'AAkvo»'€i>s  o'  d-ntXtOpos  tirtoKipmiat  AtMUcv 
QprjLKiot9  aKon4\oi^  K€fcopuOfUvo9'  dft4i  3^  Bcu(x<^ 
wlnv€<l)TJ  Kov<f>i^€  pd\iv  hvox^ifuivos  AlfiOV 
6t9  a/coTToi'  dxpTJuTTov,  dvovTifrfw  ^tovvaov' 

Kal   aK07Tl7]V   €ppit/KV   C^TTrOflCVCU   &<    Aixuov  76 

v€ppi8os  dppriKTOio  bieaxiCovTO  koXu/voa' 
*lip,a6ir)s  8c  Kaprjva  vcoy  yv^ixuac  Tu^a>c^ 
wln(l)avrjg,  Trporipw  TTavop,oUos,  oy  wot*  iroAAovr 
puryaXeovs  K€V€wvas  €kov^uj€  iirjrpd^  dpovprf^, 

428 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  49-79 

those  tippling  leaves,  the  Giants'  heads  with  those 
viper  tresses  were  cut  off  and  the  severed  necks 
danced  in  the  dust.  Tribes  innumerable  were  de- 
stroyed ;  from  the  slain  Giants  ran  everflowing  rivers 
of  blood,  crimson  torrents  newly  poured  coloured  the 
ravines  red.  The  swarms  of  earthbred  snakes  ran 
wild  with  fear  before  the  tresses  of  Dionysos  viper- 
enwreathed. 

^^  Fire  was  also  a  weapon  of  Bacchos.  He  cast  a 
torch  in  the  air  to  destroy  his  adversaries  :  through 
the  high  paths  ran  the  Bacchic  flame  leaping  and 
curling  over  itself  and  shooting  down  corrosive  sparks 
on  the  Giants'  Umbs  ;  and  there  was  a  serpent  with 
a  blaze  in  his  threatening  mouth,  half-burnt  and 
whistling  with  a  firescorched  throat,  spitting  out 
smoke  instead  of  a  spurt  of  deadly  poison. 

^^  There  was  infinite  tumult.  Bacchos  raised 
himself  and  lifted  his  fighting  torch  over  the  heads 
of  his  adversaries,  and  roasted  the  Giants'  bodies 
with  a  great  conflagration,  an  image  on  earth  of  the 
thunderbolt  cast  by  Zeus.  The  torches  blazed  :  fire 
was  rolling  all  over  the  head  of  Encelados  and  making 
the  air  hot,  but  it  did  not  vanquish  him — Encelados 
bent  not  his  knee  in  the  steam  of  the  earthly  fire, 
since  he  was  reserved  for  a  thunderbolt.  Vast 
Alcyoneus  leapt  upon  Lyaios  armed  with  his  Thracian 
crags  ;  he  lifted  over  Bacchos  a  cloudhigh  peak  of 
wintry  Haimos — useless  against  that  mark,  Dionysos 
the  invulnerable.  He  threw  the  cliflP,  but  when  the 
rocks  touched  the  fawnskin  of  Lyaios,  they  could 
not  tear  it,  and  burst  into  splinters  themselves. 
Typhoeus  towering  high  had  stript  the  mountains 
of  Emathia  (a  younger  Typhoeus  in  all  parts  like 
the  older,  who  once  had  Ufted  many  a  rugged  strip 

429 


N0NN06 

7r€Tpaioi9  /3cA/caai  Karouy/ia{ciiv  Aiov^oov.  90 

Kai  TiPo^  danaipovTo^  cVi  x^a¥^  iop  ifiAfOOf 
Bojcxos  dvaf  K€K6pv<rTo  riyavniotai  ito^i^mnc* 
toPoXujv  nXoKOfJUov  o^uuSca  Xi/fui  tctipoMf* 
KoX  arparov  avrortXtarov  arfvWt  X'tfH  hat^wp 
fidpvaro  Xvo<r^i9,  yAocpaii'  hnprfftopa  hii^putv        88 
Kujaov  €x<Jt»v  Tovv^itXXov,  dKoyrurrrjpa  Pi/cuTCtfi^. 
Kai  yv  K€  ndyras  hit^¥€v  4w  pnffijtfopi  $6pat(p, 
oAAa  naXivbivrjTos  itcoMf  oifiQ^CTD  xiplOfi, 

Kai  vv  K€v  <iV  ^pvyttfv  raj^ur  tSpa^uv  otKii  rapatp,  00 
cLAAa  fiiv  aXXo^  dfdXof  iprffTV€v,  o^pa  BopA^rum 
rooaariuiv  Iva  ^una  xarturrfu^M  ^otrrja 
llaXX-qvrfs  Y^v^rrfv  $aiwnMpo¥,  &s  won  Kie4pftif 
olarpov  €xo»v  d0dfuaTO¥  OfLOprty^iua^  dfinnlum 
ov^vyiTjv  dv4Kairr€v,  dfLirtrfimf^  M  Satjaw  88 

fjL€XXoY(^iov9  fiyrfornpai  an46ouT€V,  w¥  vno  \jSBptp 
Kr€ivop,€vwv  Kai-axTjOov  i^ounaowro  voXajurrptu, 
€ta6K€  hajcxos  hcavt  ^un^  np6fios'  ayxcycifiov  5^ 
UaXX-qvTjs  hvatparri  napiaTdfi€VOf  YtvtTrjpi 
piy€^avrJ9  vfi€vaiov  araaOaXov  "ffrtt  tcovpq^,  108 

TTOiKiXa  3*  atp€y€  Swpa'  Kol  cuTi^oiTK  Avaitp 
if>pucr6s  avTjp  tcqpv(€  TraXauafioavytp^  vfi4vaiui¥* 
Kai  fiiv  ayuiv  cVc/Si/crc  KOKtt^tlvoto  vaXaurrprff, 
oTnrodi  roA/i^aaa  bopvaaoos  urraro  Kovpij 
wiJjfyihlrjv  co/xoiaiv  €Xa^pl^ovoa  Po€lrfv,  108 

Kai  TOT€  KvTTpis  eqv  €vayaivtos'  iJk  &*  ivi  fUatnp 
yvfivos  "E/xtis  icoi  ardfipa  yofii^Aior  <iptY€  Bdtcxtp, 

•  Sithon  king  oftheOdomantc*  In  Thrace.  Thrrearctwo 
forms  of  the  story,  (a)  that  all  wooers  roust  Rght  Sitlioo,  till 
at  last  one  pair  were  set  to  fight  each  other,  and  one  of  tbeoi, 
Cleitos,  whom  Pallene  loved,  was  secretly  helped  by  her,  woa 
430 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  80-107 

of  his  mother  earth),  and  cast  the  rocky  missiles  at 
Dionysos.  Lord  Bacchos  pulled  away  the  sword  of 
one  that  was  gasping  on  the  ground  and  attacked 
the  Giants'  heads,  cutting  the  snaky  crop  of  poison- 
spitting  hair ;  even  without  weapon  he  destroyed 
the  selfmarshalled  host,  fighting  furiously,  and  using 
the  treeclimbing  longleaf  ivy  to  strike  the  Giants. 

^'  Indeed  he  would  have  slain  all  with  his  man- 
breaking  thyrsus,  if  he  had  not  retired  of  his  own  will 
out  of  the  fray  and  left  enemies  alive  for  his  Father. 

^  Then  he  would  quickly  have  gone  to  Phrygia 
with  speeding  foot,  but  another  task  held  him  back ; 
that  after  so  many  had  died  he  might  kill  one  murder- 
ous creature,  Pallene's  deathdealing  father."  He  once 
had  an  unlawful  passion  for  his  daughter ;  he  used 
to  thwart  her  marriage  and  hinder  every  match. 
Wooers  innumerable  who  would  have  wed  her  he 
killed,  a  great  harvest  of  them ;  the  places  of  wrestling 
were  noisy  with  their  murders  and  red  with  their 
blood,  until  Bacchos  came  as  the  champion  of  Justice. 
There  was  Pallene,  ever  so  near  to  wedlock,  and  her 
father  full  of  unholy  passion :  Bacchos  came  near, 
and  proposed  to  make  the  wicked  match  with  his  hor- 
rible daughter,  offering  all  manner  of  gifts.  To  this 
request  of  Lyaios,  the  dreadful  man  declared  how 
wrestling  must  win  the  bride.  He  led  him  into  the 
place  of  contest,  so  ill-omened  for  strangers,  where 
the  audacious  girl  stood  ready  spear  in  hand  bearing 
her  bridal  shield  on  her  shoulders.^ 

106  Then  Cypris  presided  over  the  ring.  In  the 
midst  was  Eros  naked,  holding  out  to  Bacchos  the 

and  finally  married  her,  (6)  the  version  given  here.  Both 
stories  seem  to  be  rather  late. 

^  This  seems  a  remnant  of  some  other  version,  in  which  the 
contest  was  a  duel,  not  a  wrestling-match. 

431 


NONNOS 

^v  5^  naXaia^uxrvvri  wfi^MHrroXaf  dpyv^iMt  M 
aPpov  dv€X^iv<oa€v  iov  Stf/xa;  tl^iort  W^wot 
vUrjv  ^€Moyanioio  npoBtanilouaa  Avcuou,  HO 

Kal  ppiapcjv  fuXitov  atrthvaaro  ^dp^a  Koifm^ 
Kol  hopv  dovpov  tOr)ic€  yawfAui¥,  Afipor4pn  M 
YtiOovls  dxpijB^uyos  daa^ApaAof  urraro  tcovfrri, 
OrjXvilHiiniji ,  daiSripot,  ip€v0i6atvn  5^  StOf^p 
dKXiu€ojv  rpoxotaaav  trw  fUTpuHraro  fiot/Mr  H^ 

Koi  5€fxa9  daK€nii  ^v,  OfMTpifruiv  hi  $eouAai¥ 
a7rX€K€€s  nXotcafLiB€S  €'tr4pp€0¥  ai/j(m  teovpffjf, 
teal  Kvi}fJLa^  ow^oiM  kcU  daircWctfr  wrvva  fiffp^ 
yvfivrj^  6aii'OfUvfis  imyovvChof  a^i^  M  firfftols 
rjpfio<T€  XtvKoy  v^aapa,  yvvauctir^  atcdwat  cuSotfr*  1^ 
KOi  XP^  triaXitp  wtnoXayfidim^  ^^X^  iXaltp 
Kal  iraXdfLa^  naXv  §iSiXXo¥,  Smwf  dXvrutv  dno  xtipufw 
vyoov  oXiaBtfoti^  mtlofUvfi  XF^  teovpftf. 

Koi  pXoavpoiS  OTOfutTcotny  dntiXfjinaa  Avalip 
wpL^KopA^  funjarnpi  napioraro,  iixB6iu>¥  hi  1^' 

av^cVi  htapxiv  ipaXXfv  ofu${vyi  irrjxto^  6Xk^' 
dXXd  naXivhiyrjTov  rfiv  dytXvaaTo  0€ia^y 
lidKxos  dnoppujtas  dnaXoxpoa  hoKruXa  tcovpnri^, 
b€Gfxoi^  drjXvr€poiai  irtpiitAOKOv  au;(€va  atiuiv 
KoX  SiSu/ia;  ar€<f>atfjhov  iw*  tfvi  X^^P"-^  IXifas  ISO 

YlaXXrjvriv  crwaft  mhwv  irtpaXKU  naX^up* 
Kal  poScrjs  TraXdfirf^  ihpdiaro,  KvnpiBiriv  hi 
five  7Tapauf>aai7jv  ;(covco3€a  X^tpa  vUiwv 
oi5d€  Toaov  p.€V€aiV€v  cm  x^^  iroiSa  »n>Xtvh€iv, 
ooaov  €7Tultav€iv  dnaXov  XP^fOS,  ij&c*  fco^^y  I*^"- 

rcpnoficvos'  Kal  €Kafiv€  hoXanXoKov  aaOfia  nraivaw 
Uis  ppoTOSt  dfi^XiT)  Sc  $€Xijfiovt  KoXXiirt  vucqv, 
WaXXrivri  8*  €p6€aaa  ndX-qg  T€;(Vi^/iOKi  iraXfup 
drfXvrepais  iraXd^rjai  SV/xa;  fcou^^c  Avalov 
4S£ 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  108-139 

bridal  wreath.  Wrestling  was  to  win  the  bride  : 
Peitho  clad  her  delicate  body  in  a  silvery  robe,  fore- 
telling victory  for  Lyaios's  wooing.  The  girl  stript 
the  clothes  off  her  muscular  limbs  ;  she  laid  down  the 
fierce  wedding-spear.  There  stood  the  daughter  of 
Sithon,  daintier  now,  unshod,  unveiled,  unarmed,  re- 
vealed a  woman,  but  a  red  band  girt  the  rounded 
curve  of  her  firm  breasts.  Her  body  was  uncovered, 
but  for  the  long  tresses  of  the  abundant  hair  which 
flowed  loose  over  the  girl's  neck.  Her  legs  were 
visible,  and  the  curve  of  her  thighs  uncovered  with 
the  part  above  the  knee  bare,  but  a  white  wrap  fitted 
close  over  the  thighs  to  cover  her  nakedness.  Her 
skin  had  been  well  rubbed  with  fat  oil,  and  her  arms 
more  than  all,  that  she  might  slip  out  easily  if  her 
body  were  pressed  in  a  grasp  too  strong  to  loosen. 

^24  She  came  up  to  Lyaios  her  eager  wooer  with 
rough  threatening  words,  and  threw  her  two  arms  with 
a  swing  linking  them  round  his  neck  ;  Bacchos  just 
threw  back  his  neck  ^\^th  the  woman's  fetters  about 
it,  and  shook  it  loose  again,  throwing  off  the  girl's 
tender  fingers.  Then  he  put  his  two  arms  round  her 
waist  like  a  girdle,  and  shook  her  from  side  to  side  by 
movements  of  his  feet.  He  grasped  a  rosy  palm,  and 
felt  comfort  for  his  love  as  he  squeezed  the  snowwhite 
hand.  He  did  not  wish  so  much  to  give  the  maid  a 
throw  as  to  touch  the  soft  flesh,  entranced  with  his 
delightful  task ;  he  used  all  his  guile,  panting  with 
labouring  breath,  as  if  he  were  a  mortal,  delaying 
victory  on  purpose.  Lovely  Pallene  tried  a  trick  of 
the  ring  to  lift  the  body  of  Lyaios,  but  her  woman's 
VOL.  Ill  2  F  4>33 


NONNOS 

ovS4  y.w  rf4prai€,  roaov  pdpot,  dXXa  wofiouoa 
dpa€va  yvta  AcAotncv  axun^rov  Aiotmidv. 
Kai  deos  dyrirvn<ft  iT€piBdafuC¥  aufiart  ynpwr 

\\aXXi')yrji'  b*  drtvaKTOv  Skiff  hmtCaooro  ya47* 

tcovprjs  ofipondfAov  K€Kovi^Uva  vvui  5oir«ilttir 
KoX  TrXoKafiovs  pvnoutvras  djajfiioroio  #ro^nfwov. 
oAAa  miXivhiytiTos  dpatfaaa  tcwntfi 
opOios  €<m]fH(€  TO  Mrtpov  iyifta  Kovpti' 
KoX  rpoxa^jj  AionKroc  w^tMi  yoAnrof  oofi^ 
•yacn4f>a  llaAAYTKi^  Kpartwv  irtpaXie^i  voA^i^ 
napd€viKTjv  /icWoivcv  vnip  BawAoto  kvXu^u^^ 
Kat  TraXdfjMS  fUT€$y)K€v  ivi  wXfvpolaw  iXifaf 
avx^vo-  KVfmoaa^  hntcdpavov,  o/i^  M  vunt^ 
fieaaariw  KVfcXuHJ€v  onumpa  hd/mtXa.  Kdfufns, 
rj  a<f>vp6v  ri  Km^firjp  StSotnjfitvoi  rj  yow  fAdfu/Kty. 
Kal  ^€09  avTOKvXurro^  €$eovatos  rjpiirt  vcujy 
ovTibavfj  naXdfiT)  viKwfUVOS'  ifL€p6€v  5< 
<l)dpp.aKov  €axfy  €panoi,  /w  yAvKC/m  5c  fcovlji 
Kov<l>i^wv  €p6€is  €irl  vrfivi  ^6pm¥    r^punwv 
VTTTioy  avTo^  €pifn'€,  Koi  o^K  aircacamTO  Kovprjv, 
dXXd  fiiv  €Gif>-qK(oG€  noSov  ^p€vod€Xy4i  5ca/xo>. 
w  S€  TaxvoT poif>dXLyYi  itoScjv  vwfirjropi  iroX^u^ 
i^^tov  fjwp-qacv,  €piop.a\'4os  hi  Avaiov 
dpaeva  Xvaaro  X*'P<*'  ^<^  h*  vn*  oAi(ovt  piirj 
yvia  p€Ta(rrp€ipas  poS^Tjv  erayvaaaro  Kovprpr 
iv  hairihw  oropcoay-  kox  irrl  vOovi  k^kXito  Kovpnri 
X€lpa9  €<l>a7rXcoaaaa'  Ttrau-o^icviyy  8*  cnl  Wfjy 
€V7TCLXd/JLw  G<f>TjKcjo€v  opo^vyov  avj^cm  Sca/tfp* 
484 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  140-171 

arms  were  not  equal  to  raise  that  great  weight ;  she 
tired,  and  let  go  the  masculine  limbs  of  Dionysos  im- 
movable. Then  the  god  took  a  hke  hold  of  the  lovely- 
girl,  and  joining  his  two  arms  about  his  adversary 
lifted  her  as  if  she  were  his  own  wand,  and  threw 
her  aslant  round  and  over  his  shoulder ;  then  with 
gentle  hand  swung  off  the  sturdy  girl  and  laid  her 
at  full  length  quiet  on  the  ground.  He  let  his  eyes 
furtively  wander,  scanning  the  limbs  of  the  girl 
covered  with  her  glorious  hair  in  the  dust,  the 
luxurious  tresses  of  the  untidy  head  dabbled  in  dirt. 
1^  But  the  girl  jumped  up  again  from  the  dust 
and  stood  up  steady  on  her  feet  once  more.  Then 
Dionysos  with  an  agile  movement  mercilessly  set  his 
knee  against  Pallene's  belly,  and  holding  her  tried 
to  roll  her  over  on  the  ground  with  a  sideways  heave, 
changed  his  arms  to  a  grasp  round  her  waist,  bent 
his  head  to  one  side  and  shifted  his  fingers  behind 
to  the  middle  of  her  back,  and  tried  to  hook  ankle 
or  shin,  or  to  catch  the  knee.  At  last  the  god  fell 
back  of  himself  rolling  on  the  ground  and  let  a 
feeble  hand  conquer  him  :  a  charming  physic  it  was 
for  his  love,  when  he  lay  beautiful  in  that  happy 
dust  on  his  back,  bearing  upon  his  own  belly  that 
lovely  burden — he  lay  still,  and  did  not  throw  off  the 
girl,  but  held  her  fast  with  soulconsoHng  bonds  of 
desire.  She  pulled  herself  from  the  manly  hands 
of  lovemad  Dionysos,  and  lifted  herself  to  her  feet 
with  a  twist  of  her  legs  in  a  quick  supple  move- 
ment ;  but  the  god  with  a  slight  effort  simply  rolled 
over  and  laid  the  rosy  girl  flat  on  the  ground.  So 
there  lay  the  girl  on  the  ground  stretching  her  arms 
abroad,  and  as  she  lay  along  the  ground  he  joined 
his  arms  neatly  in  a  clasp  about  her  neck. 

435 


NOKNOS 

*ClKUT(poii  h€  n6S€<rai  narfip  koto,  iUoow  ipo6oa9 
adX€V€iv  €6€Xovaay  trfv  oji^atlpaot  iroi^p^* 
KoX  yafurjv  oi^kwJkv  atOXofniinjpf  6fianlum 
vUrjv  lfi€p6€aaav  cVir/W^f  £iuj¥VOtf»,  111 

yvwrov  "Epcj^  tartilM  y^fuom^  vofMT^*  KOft&iifitf 
Ifitprrfjv  rtXioavra  naXauoftoaiiinff  ^iu9qIu9, 
KoX  tt/Ac  roio;  oc^Aof  6fioli/Of,  wt  &rt  Ko6f/fjif  ISO 

Xpvao4>arj  irpondpoi$€  ya^^kuL  Sajpa  tOfXMwif 
*l7nTOfJL€V7js  vuniatv  imtyofUinj¥  *AraAdEi^n|r. 

'AAA*  ore  Wfi^KOfAOiO  w«tAs^  MXiao€¥  iywva 
BoKxos,  cri  OTd(aiv  yofuovr  iSpomc  iABXu¥ 

fjLvrjan^pcjv  oXtrijpa,  tcvXafiofUfOV  8^  "^c^^ 
Kot;f>i7  Ovpaov  tSutKt  fiuu/^^vov  €^¥0¥  '^ctfitiir. 


*  Presumably  it  vms  to  be  the  best  two  oot  of  thrre  boot*. 
So  far  DionyMM  had  aoorcd  one  Ikll,  thr  Mcond  boot  wms 
undrcidrd  and  did  not  oooiit,  rinee  both  had  oooie'dowa 
(by  Greek  nile»  only  dean  thmwt  counted),  and  to  Palknc 
niiffbt  be  equal  yrt. 

Mt  Is  a  not  unhappy  oompariion  vhich  briofi  to- 
gether Pallene.  Atolante  and  (919)  OinonMio.  Atekme, 
daughter  of  Schoineus  of  BoiotiA  (or  Aicadift)  WM  lotvd  by 
Hippomencs  (in  the  comnMNMSt  vefskMi  of  the  tlory).  bat 
she  would  fnarr>-  no  one  who  could  not  beat  her  In  a  foot- 
race, and  those  who  \of\  the  race  were  killed.  Hipponenes, 
by  the  favour  of  Aphrodite,  had  three  at  the  coldcti  Apples  of 
the  Hesperides,  and  every  time  he  got  ahead  of  Atalanle  in 
the  race,  he  threw  one  down  tiefore  her,  so  that  she  dekyvd 
to  pick  up  it  and  thus  lost  despite  her  great  speed  of  foot. 
Oinomaos  gave  any  suitor  permu»lon  to  take  his  dnagfrter 
Hippodameia  and  drive  off  with  her  in  a  dMriot, 
4S6 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  172-187 

^"^^  Then  with  swift  feet  her  father  leapt  between 
them.  The  girl  wanted  to  try  again,"  but  he  held  her 
back,  and  put  an  end  to  this  wedding-contest  for  a 
bride  by  yielding  love's  victory  to  Dionysos,  for  fear 
he  might  kill  her  in  that  immovable  grip.  So  after 
the  victory  in  this  contest,  with  the  consent  of  Zeus, 
Eros  crowned  his  brother  with  the  cluster  that  heralds 
a  wedding;  for  he  had*  accomplished  a  delectable 
wedding-bout.  It  was  indeed  a  contest  Uke  that 
when  Hippomenes  once  conquered  flying  Atalanta, 
by  rolling  golden  marriage-gifts  in  front  of  her  feet.^ 

1^^  But  when  Bacchos  had  ended  the  wrestling- 
match  for  his  bride,  still  dripping  with  the  sweat  of  his 
wedding  contest  he  struck  down  Sithon  with  a  stab  of 
his  sharp  thyrsus,  Sithon  the  murderer  of  wooers  ;  and 
as  the  father  rolled  in  the  dust  he  gave  his  daughter 
the  thyrsus  that  slew  him,  as  a  love-gift.     That  was 

however  the  right  to  pursue  in  his  own  chariot  and  spear  the 
suitor  if  he  could  catch  him.  In  one  version  of  the  story  of 
Pallene  (Parthenios  vi.  3-4),  chariots  are  introduced  also, 
though  it  is  said  that  the  competitors  for  her  hand  (cf.  note 
on  93)  were  to  fight  from  them,  not  race  in  them,  a  very  odd 
archaism,  since  fighting  in  (as  opposed  to  from)  chariots  was 
already  obsolete  in  the  days  of  Homer.  This  suggests  that 
here  again  a  pursuit  (not  a  race  in  the  ordinary  sense)  may 
have  been  the  original  contest.  Atalante  also,  in  a  version 
preserved  by  Hyginus  (Fab.  185.  2,  see  Rose  ad  /oc),  did  not 
race  with  her  suitors,  but  ran  after  them,  killing  them  if  she 
caught  them  before  they  got  to  the  goal.  Now  if  we  compare 
the  curious  ritual  of  Orchomenos  (Plutarch,  Quaest.  Graec. 
38),  in  which  the  priest  of  Dionysos  pursued  with  a  sword 
certain  women,  and  might  kill  any  one  of  them  he  caught,  it 
seems  in  no  way  impossible  that  all  these  stories,  or  some  of 
them  at  least,  represent  a  ritual  flight  and  pursuit  (a  common 
enough  ceremony  in  itself)  with  a  real  or  pretended  kilUng 
involved.  That  such  a  performance  should  be  confused  with 
a  ritual  combat,  also  a  fairly  common  proceeding,  is  natural 
enough. 

437 


NONN08 

yL€iXrjvoi  K€Aa&rf<mv,  €7ratpx}Aaarro  M  Ba«cycu, 

^ai  idrvpoi  fuOvotrrt^  oWirAcjror  ll]^«or  '^curoiy    190 

ovl^uyirjv  fitXnavrt^  d€$Xo^6p€Mtv  vfitwalmf. 

^rjp€tBwy  b€  ^oAayve;  iM  a^pa  ythomf  MfioO 

wyuij>ihiji  \i6woov  ifurpwonyro  Yoptijn, 

Kal  fitXo^  i^iyiavro,  irapi  ^pnun  M  w^mp 

(€ivoS6ko^  Bpofjuoio  y4fiw¥  dutxqfmro  Ni|pcifc«         IM 

KoX  Y^ifjuj)  VaXdrtia  n^purtctxipovaa  BaXdaajn 

ilaXXi^vrjv  iXiyoivt  avvawrotUyw  ^tovvatp, 

Koi  Sen;  ^GKipTqat,  ircu  C4  vAi  vrjit  *EpafTUMf, 

Koi  yafiirfv  €<rr€ilKV  aXiluMnv  i^Xf^  loBfioO 

HaXXijtnfi  VfUvaufy  aycva{cay  MMAucdprrff-  100 

Kal  Tii  * AfLa&fwaBaf¥  ^Xoytpj  wnpa  ytfrroM.  Aij|fu^ 

wynfuhirw  Spnunmi^  *A^aMas  7^'ro  irctWip. 

Kcu  ^cAioi;  oapoun  nafinfyop^afy  40  v6i»Affj¥ 

fivpofUvrjv  Ytvtrrjpa  ^cAcuiof  cZircv  OKOirrff 

\\ap$€V€,  firi  <rr«m)^{c  r€6¥  hvoiporra  roKifk'  MO 
nap0€V€,  firj  oTcva;(t{c  rrfjf  fivrfirnjpa  tcoptlrj^- 
Tiy  y€V€n\s  €<m€ip€  kcu  tU  ya^Aa¥  vyayc  Kov/njv; 
aov  K€V€6v  AiTTc  n4v0o9,  on  KraftitfOio  TOKtjot, 
1l.l66vos  vfi€r€f>oio,  Sucrj  ytXiotaa  xOP^^t 
ycpal  5c  irap6€viff<7t  yafLTjXuo¥  aifniUyn  nvp,  210 

f)  ydyiov  dyvwoaovaa,  r€Ov  yclfior  cuTrn  fUXmt, 
Olvofiaov  TToXiv  dXXov  orriYrcuouaa  Bopotrra' 
Olvofiaos  /x€v  oAcuAc,  Kara^ifitvov  5c  TO«r^o( 
T€p7r€Tai  *l7nTo6dfi€ia  aw  dprtydfuo  napOKOiTji, 
Kal  crv  Tcou  ytvcVao  iro^owy  palfoaa  BvtXXauf  ^^ 

Tc/mco  ^orpvoevTi  atwanrofifvfi  vapoKoirQ^ 


•  The   Isthmus   of   I'allrne,   wctlcffnmort   of  the   three 

promontories  of  Chalcklicc. 
488 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  188-216 

a  wedding  of  many  songs  :  the  bridechamber  was 
never  silent,  Seilenoi  chanted,  Bacchants  danced, 
drunken  Satyrs  wove  a  hymn  of  love  and  sang  the 
alliance  which  came  of  this  victorious  match.  Com- 
panies of  Nereids  under  the  foothills  of  the  neighbour- 
ing isthmus  <*  encircled  Dionysos  with  wedding  dances 
and  warbled  their  lay ;  beside  the  Thracian  sea  danced 
old  Nereus,  who  once  had  Bromios  for  a  guest ; 
Galateia  tript  over  the  wedding-sea  and  carolled 
Pallene  joined  with  Dionysos  ;  Thetis  capered  al- 
though she  knew  nothing  of  love  ^  ;  Melicertes 
crowned  the  seagirt  wedding-reef  of  the  isthmus 
chanting  Euoi  for  Pallene 's  bridal  ;  many  a  Hama- 
dryad of  Athos  kindled  a  Thracian  torch  for  the 
bridal  in  fiery  Lemnos  *  close  by.  And  while  the 
bride  mourned  her  father,  the  Euian  bridegroom 
comforted  her  with  lover's  tender  talk  : — 

20S  **  Maiden,  lament  not  for  your  father  so  wicked 
in  his  love  !  Maiden,  lament  not  for  one  that  wooed 
your  maidenhood  !  What  father  ever  begat  and  then 
married  his  own  daughter  ?  Leave  your  empty 
mourning,  because  now  that  Sithon  your  father  is 
slain  Justice  dances  and  laughs,  and  kindles  a  wed- 
ding-torch with  her  virgin  hands ;  she  who  knows  not 
marriage  still  is  singing  your  marriage,  as  she  beholds 
a  new  Oinomaos  dead.  Oinomaos  died  indeed,  but 
although  her  father  had  perished,  Hippodameia  took 
her  joy  with  her  husband  newly-wedded.^  Then  you 
too  must  throw  to  the  winds  your  regret  for  your 
father,  and  take  your  joy  united  with  your  vinegod 

*  Because  it  was  not  till  later  that  she  married  Peleus. 

"  A  tradition  of  volcanic  activities  in  Lemnos  (Aiy/Livtov 
TTvp)  lirigered  into  classical  times. 

<*  There  is  a  real  resemblance  between  the  legends,  see  note 
on  182. 

4S9 


NONNOS 

fjLWfiov  dXtvofUmrj  narpoHoy  oJ  a€  hM(m 
J^idovo^  ^yBpov  Upcjra  koI  d^ifioXbflf  ^liMvaioft', 

yripaX^v  a«  rAroacv,  airci^n^n^  *A^jpo5/n|f,  ^S'' 

ovj^vyirjv  5*  fKthaaa€¥  cuoifi^ci^rcur  a</o  Xlicrporv, 
fitrrjarrjpwv  aKanla^€  a€orfn6ra  Xtiilfava  v€KpCt¥t 
oik  UfufHT)  KoafAffat  ictd  cWtom  BoOptg  *K^twfe* 
^I'lSc  icciva  Koprjva  $aXuata  otto  fiiMl9ptt¥, 
Xvdpov  rri  (rra{oKra  KOtto^tlpiMm  f^fuvaltmf.  tts 

n€i0ofiai  dni  at  XSxtvat  r€6s  SpfffUwf  'Kfftff, 
ntiBofiait  cuf  Ku^cpcia  rr^i^  cu^u^  /rW9Ai|r* 
/ecu  <7V  Tccji'  $45t;/ia>y  av€fia(ao  $€afi^  Tomfcur, 
'Ap€o^  '^$0^  ^Xovaa  »cal  dyXatrp^  'A^lpoSrn^*  sic 

irtWofuu,  Off  Of  ^i6rwvot9  ipof  ipaytumof  'Effiifg 
dppa  rcAcaoiyofcoio  /loAcur  M  h4fima  llfiAoi^, 
icai  ac  TroAaiafiooiVip'  iSMi(aro  irofindy  *Ep€aTOf¥." 

Efrrc  naprjYoptotv  aj^^oir  frcui/oia  fivOip, 
fivpofianrj^  5*  ctrn^cv  ^inyKiTa  5curpva  irovpi^.        2^5 
#cai  yaniTf^  hi^Bww  M  xP^^O¥  iyy^^  yv^i/fv 
T€p7r6fi€vos  ^iXoTTfTt  vto^vydaMf  vfUvauMt¥, 

Ua^-qirrfs  &€  fiiXadpa  Xlwwv  uroi  Spi^Ka  Bofnja 
'Pflrjs  €19  hofxov  ^A^cv,  ^vjf  ^pvytrf  trtipi,  Wfjy 
Saifiovos  €vwSivo9  coov  Ktf^AijiBcf  auAcu.  ^40 

cvOdSe  $rjp€vovaa  napd  aif>vpd  Au^vfia  n^/np 
*Pvv6aKls  ovp€auf>oiT09  dcfcro  mip&4vo9  A^vpfj, 
cureri  1^1?  "Epctrroy,  6fi68pofu>9  u>;(€a<fn/;, 
aTTToAc/uov  <^vyoiK7a  i^T^fiara  TrapS^vucdnw, 
"Aprcfu^  6nXoT€pi]  Ar)XaiTid9,  rjv  iTor€  Tirrp^ 
Wfu^vaas  ll€pifioicLP  dnoanopov  'Chctayoib 
440 


ftf 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  217-246 

lover,  now  that  you  have  escaped  a  father's  disgrace. 
I  need  not  tell  you  of  Sithon's  hateful  love  and  your 
marriage  delayed  ;  how  he  took  in  hand  a  murderous 
blade  to  kill  your  wooers,  and  let  you  grow  old  with- 
out a  taste  of  Aphrodite,  scattered  your  hopes  of  a 
husband  and  left  your  bed  solitary.  Look  at  the 
rotting  relics  of  your  pretenders'  bodies,  whom  the 
Paphian  adorned  and  the  furious  Avenger  slew ! 
See  those  heads  hung  before  your  doors  like  first- 
fruits  of  harvest,  still  dripping  with  the  gore  of  those 
inhospitable  bridal  feasts  !  You  are  no  mortal 
daughter  of  Sithon.  I  believe  a  heavenly  being 
begat  you,  your  own  Thracian  Ares.  I  believe 
Cythereia  brought  you  to  birth  ;  and  you  have  marks 
of  both  parents  imprinted,  the  temper  of  Ares  and 
the  radiance  of  Aphrodite.  Or  I  believe  your  father 
was  Lord  Hermes  of  the  ring,  when  he  entered 
the  delicate  bed  of  Peitho  who  brings  marriage  to 
pass,  and  he  taught  you  the  wrestling  which  leads 
the  way  to  love." 

234  So  he  consoled  her  with  words  that  healed  her 
sorrow,  and  stilled  the  lovely  tears  of  the  mourning 
maiden.  And  he  lingered  for  some  time  beside  his 
wedded  bride,  taking  his  joy  in  the  love  of  this  new 
marriage. 

238  Then  he  left  the  halls  of  Pallene  and  Thracian 
Boreas,  and  went  on  to  Rheia's  house,  where  the 
divine  court  of  the  prolific  Cybele  stood  on  Phrygian 
soil.  There  grew  Aura  the  mountain  maiden  of 
Rhyndacos,  and  hunted  over  the  foothills  of  rocky 
Dindymon.  She  was  yet  unacquainted  with  love,  a 
comrade  of  the  Archeress.  She  kept  aloof  from  the 
notions  of  unwarlike  maids,  like  a  younger  Artemis, 
this  daughter  of  Lelantos  ;    for  the  father  of  this 

441 


NONNOS 

7Tp€aPvY€v^  A-^Xnirro^  atXX6wo¥  'fjpoat  tcoiipifir, 
Kovfyqv  airrtdvtipav,  oTrcipTnp'  *A^yio8(ri|f. 
1}  fi€v  dy€pXd(m)iT€v  tmiprrtpoi  ^jkucoi  t(^, 

Kcu  5opv  Bovpov  €n€fim  Karaix/idfiovoa  Ajo/wyf, 
ou  irc/ia3o9  irrciKwoo  irai  od  fi6XXpvo9L  Xetywoik- 
dXXa  ba^tr^aafu^  iXn^piiovoa  ^apdfpiff 
offiopopwv  r6(€V€v  6piBfH>iia  ^€Xa,  Xt6mt¥  |^ 

drfpo^voi^  p€Xi€aaw  hrwmfiujii  hi  teal  ipytp 

6(vTaTOV  hpOfAOV  €tx€V  Spttdn   OfMpOfiOg  o^poif . 

Koi  vor€  ^ulnXdoto  wp<wy4i  icavfAarof  wpiji 
irapdivoi  vmtoovaa  w6¥ta¥  Ofuvavrro  ^ijpi|(* 
Koi  h^fui^  anXtoaaaa  KvfifiXiiof  &^6$i  «0(^  t6< 

Kpdra  napaxXiyaaa  oo^^jpopor  Ipwf  B^^Tfi 
cu$€  fitarjfifipi^ovoa,  Kol  ioooiUmm^  ^fi€Palat¥ 
lfi€prrqv  €v&rfa€  npofiayruK  ^^  i¥€ipov, 
orri  d€6^  TTvpoci?  rayvaas  fUkus  aWomi  Pfvp^ 
Bovpov  'Inputs  Tof  €V€  XaywP6X9S  Mo^  XAxi^fff*      S&' 
oi)ri3ai\>t9  /JcAc'caotv  oarrcucuv  <rrixo.  Brfpaht' 
naibl  5^  ^pcvoiTi  ov^fAtropoi  vUi  Slvppffff 
Kvnpi^  eqv  ycAooKra*  froi  MrraTO  napBivaf  Avprj, 
'A/)T€^i8o9  /xerd  ro^ov  ai^co9  i^lf^Bry  wfiov 
ayp€VTrjpog  'Rpunos  iXa^pHovoa  ^ap€rprjv' 
avrap  6  Bijpa^  €tt€^v€v,  €ijaq  €Kop€aaaro  v€Vpif^ 
jSoAAcov  TTopSaXuov  pXoovpo¥  aT6fui 

Kol  y^inm  apterov, 
^wyp-qaag  8c  Acaii^v  €w  iropdtky^i  Ktarw 
Brjpa  iru^ofxivr^v  <f>iXo7raiyfju)Vi  Scifc  T^KOwrjf 
iTopBevucri  8*  iSotajat  Kara  kv€^9,  om  Koi  avrrp'  275 
4iS 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  247-275 

stormfoot  girl  was  ancient  Lelantos  the  Titan,  who 
wedded  Periboia,  a  daughter  of  Oceanos  ;  a  manUke 
maid  she  was,  who  knew  nothing  of  Aphrodite.  She 
grew  up  taller  than  her  yearsmates,  a  lovely  rosy- 
armed  thing,  ever  a  friend  of  the  hills.  Often  in 
hunting  she  ran  down  the  wild  bear,  and  sent  her 
swift  lance  shooting  against  the  lioness,  but  she  slew 
no  prickets  and  shot  no  hares.  No,  she  carried  her 
tawny  quiver  to  shoot  down  hillranging  tribes  of 
i:avening  lions,  with  her  shafts  that  were  death  to 
wild  beasts.  Her  name  was  like  her  doings  :  Aura 
the  Windmaid  could  run  most  swiftly,  keeping  pace 
with  the  highland  winds. 

258  One  day  in  the  scorching  season  of  thirsty  heat 
the  maiden  was  asleep,  resting  from  her  labours  of 
hunting.  Stretching  her  body  on  Cybele's  grass, 
and  leaning  her  head  on  a  bush  of  chaste  "  laurel, 
she  slept  at  midday,  and  saw  a  vision  in  her  dreams 
which  foretold  a  delectable  marriage  to  come — how 
the  fiery  god,  wild  Eros,  fitted  shaft  to  burning  string 
and  shot  the  hares  in  the  forest,  shot  the  wild  beasts 
in  a  row  with  his  tiny  shafts ;  how  Cypris  came, 
laughing,  wandering  with  the  young  son  of  Myrrha  * 
as  he  hunted,  and  Aura  the  maiden  was  there, 
carrying  the  quiver  of  huntsman  Eros  on  the  shoulder 
which  was  ere  now  used  to  the  bow  of  Artemis.  But 
Eros  went  on  killing  the  beasts,  until  he  was  weary 
of  the  bowstring  and  hitting  the  grim  face  of  a 
panther  or  the  snout  of  a  bear  ;  then  he  caught  a 
honess  alive  with  the  allbe witching  cestus,  and 
dragging  the  beast  away  showed  her  fettered  to 
his  merry  mother.     The  maiden  saw  in  the  darkness 

"  Because  the  laurel  is  Daphne,  who  would  have  none  of 
Apollo's  advances,  ^  The  son  of  Myrrha  is  Adonis. 

443 


NO>WOS 

Tnjx^n'  initcXivovaay  *AS(tfn5i  Koi  KvBtMin 

XrjihiTj^  yovu  SovXov  vntfi^taXoto  Xioiyrit, 
rotov  Itro^  fioocjv  "  aT€^atffMp€  finrtp  *EptMtrwv, 
aifx^va  aoi  KXit-ouaay  dyw  fiXan^p9€VC¥  KCpiff¥'      SM 
oAAd,  voSofiXifTOio  Yopin^s  *Opxoft€MM6, 

roaaarifiv  viKrfa€v  ovun^rcNO  A«un^." 
Tolov  €no^  fiavr^tO¥  6p€Ortas  I8{p(urcv  Mpn)' 
ov&<  fidrrjv  npo^  'E^Mrrar  hfif  Siop^  Sm  teal  avroi  2»^'> 
€19  Xivov  dvSoa  ^fiovoi  Kol  Juyptiaacmot  ymnUa, 
Kovprj  5*  €ypofi4vf)  fnwr6^po¥i  ftaiprro  8rf^p, 
Kai  Wa^jj  Koi  *Epam  uaWooaro,  kqI  wXiaif    I'wvtp 
^woaro  TaXfirJ€yn,  tnu  'qntiXr^atv  ^Qptipiff, 

"  Aa^i^,  T4  kXov^€is  fi€; 

Ti  Kvnpthi  Kol  a4o  ZMpt^;  »: 
daadfi-qv  cuSovoa  rcoiW  vno  vcftropaf  df^ovf 
GOV  J>vt6v  iXnoyJvTi  ^tXondpi€¥0¥,  v^urifniq  hk 
<l>TiyLns  ovK  irvxqaa  «rcu  Iktrlhai'  ok  oukx,  ^di^nnn,    Sfts 
aov  0€fia9  dXXafaaa  rt€¥  vda»  c^pc;  ofuulni; 

oi)  7ri^im79  To^  Sdvbpov,  dw*  apriyd^iiHO  oi  wdi»iff^;  99 
ou  vf/icat?  Trapa  fivprov  dvtipara  raOra  vdmu,      » 
fia)^Aa5o9  0UT09  ovctpoj  ind(u>9'  ^  pd  at  llci^t  2J* 
^  pa  <7€  x^^P^  ^trrcvcrc  rco;  $a^imo9  'AwttfAAoir; 

EfTTCv  o/xoO  Kortovaa  ^i/r<p  ifcU  'Epcort  #f04  HTin^. 
#fai  7roT€  Br)p€vovoa  nar    oupca  5c<nrorc9  dypfff^ 

■  In  her  dream  Aura  is  at  ooce  the  fiuiiiliaf>  oompankM  €4 
the  powers  of  love  and  a  wiid  creature  just  caught  and  given 
to  them. 

*  The  Charites,  as  attendanU  of  Aphrodite. 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  276-302 

how  mischievous  Eros  teased  herself  also  as  she 
leaned  her  arm  on  Cythereia  and  Adonis,  while  he 
made  his  prey  the  proud  lioness,  bend  a  slavish  knee 
before  Aphrodite,  as  he  cried  loudly,  "  Garlanded 
mother  of  the  loves  !  I  lead  to  you  Aura,  the  maiden 
too  fond  of  maidenhood,  and  she  bows  her  neck." 
Now  you  dancers  of  lovestricken  Orchomenos,^ 
crown  this  cestus,  the  strap  that  waits  on  marriage, 
because  it  has  conquered  the  stubborn  will  of  this 
invincible  lioness  !  "  Such  was  the  prophetic  oracle 
which  Aura  the  mountain  maiden  saw.  Nor  was  it 
vain  for  the  loves,  since  they  themselves  bring  a 
man  into  the  net  and  hunt  a  woman. 

287  The  maiden  awoke,  raved  against  the  prudent 
laurel,  upbraided  Eros  and  the  Paphian — but  bold 
Sleep  she  reproached  more  than  all  and  threatened 
the  Dream  :  she  was  angry  with  the  leaves  and 
thought,  though  she  spoke  not, 

2^2  "  Daphne,  why  do  you  persecute  me  ?  What 
has  your  tree  to  do  with  Cypris  ?  I  was  deluded 
when  I  slept  under  your  neighbouring  branches,  be- 
cause I  thought  yours  was  a  plant  of  chastity  ;  but  I 
found  nothing  of  your  reputation  or  my  hope.  And 
so.  Daphne,  when  you  changed  your  shape  you  found 
how  to  change  your  mind  ?  Surely  you  are  not  the 
servant  of  conjugal  Aphrodite  after  your  death  ? 
This  is  not  the  tree  of  a  decent  girl  but  of  a  bride 
newly  wed.  One  might  expect  to  see  such  dreams 
near  a  myrtle  :  this  dream  is  worthy  of  a  harlot.  Did 
Peitho  plant  you,  did  your  laurel- Apollo  plant  you 
with  his  own  hand  ?  " 

^1  She  spoke  thus,  angry  at  the  plant  and  Eros  and 
Sleep  all  together. 

^2  And  once  it  happened  that  Artemis  queen  of 

445 


N0KN08 

KavfjMTOi  cu^oAocvrcx  ifLoaaafidmri  ypoa  wpotf 

OfpfjLov  6p€aaixvToi<n  S^fjuit  ijrifttt  XotrpcSg, 

KCLpx^^^V^  TTvpotyra  fuatififipu^  iXP"'  !§idaBhl9 
•H^Aioj  rnXdytit  XtorrtUmf  M  -' 


/ecu  tc€fuiBai  l^vyioioi  avM«cAi^ioo«  Xtw^imw 
Apr€fui  ovptait^TOf  hrtfipaitwvoa  M  ^i^pov 
Aa^cro  Kol  pdartya  Kol  Ma  mafB4woi  Avffti, 
Kai  K€paTjv  nXawt  ft>cAAyooai>  ^bn{n|r. 
dtvdov  hi  Bvyarptf  ia^^MMwns  *Qst€ap€io 
hfjLCJtB€^  ippujovro  aiMfiMtfScf  loxmipfit 
wv  -q  u€v  raxyyowoft  hj¥  vpotclXtvSot  dvdoorjt, 
dXXrj  0*  laoK€X€v^oi  aanartlXaaa  X'^rwva 
€yyv^  €i]v,  €r€prj  Si  TomnnnjfudQr  dm^m^ 
aTrrofUiTj  ntipwSos  6fMpou€tf  cfx*  ^tOfihff* 
KoX  acAa;  iox^aipa  huMvydt/ovaa  wpaowmnf 
dful>nr6Xu}y  rjarpatlKV  Ow^pnpof,  cuf  &r€  ^l^p<p 
aW€piw  n^finovaa  ^tXaypvwvwv  ^X6ya  wvpawv 
dw€<f>€Xov^  dxripas  Surrtihfuaa  £cAi^ 
7rA7;<7i^i^9  aWrccAc*  irvoirp€^4w¥  fc^oor  darpwv, 
ovpavirjv  arlxa.  irdaav  ofLoXMiHwaa  wpoowntp- 
rrj  acAay  taov  €XOvaa  hUrp€Xi9  'Aprtpi^  vXrjv, 
€ia6K€  x^pov  ufovcv,  OTTQ  «ccA((5om  pttBpof 
'Layyapiov  myrafioZo  AuircT<9  cAirrnu  vSiifp. 

Avprj  S*   a/x^cAuTcrav  C17V  dy€K<Mlf€V  ifiaoBXrp^, 
Kol  KCfidSas  XP*^^^^^^  dvoKpovovaa  xoAammp 
dfKf>l  pods  €(rrqa€  t^pavyta  Si^pov  dpdaarf^' 
Kol  Oeos  €K  6uf>poio  Korthpapufv'  ix  Bi  oi  cSfUnr 

*  av/rcAA<  MM. :  ifiraXi  acripsL 

*  The  constellation  Leo,  which  the  ran  enters  July  Tt. 
446 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  303-331 

the  hunt  was  hunting  over  the  hills,  and  her  skin  was 
beaten  by  the  glow  of  the  scorching  heat,  in  the 
middle  of  glowing  summer,  at  midday,  when  Helios 
blazed  as  he  whipt  the  Lion's  ^  back  with  the  fire  of 
his  rough  whistling  whip  ;  so  she  got  ready  her  car 
to  cool  her  hot  frame  along  with  the  Naiad  Nymphs 
in  a  bath  in  some  hill  burn.  Then  Artemis  hillranger 
fastened  her  prickets  under  the  yokestraps.  Maiden 
Aura  mounted  the  car,  took  reins  and  whip  and  drove 
the  horned  *  team  like  a  tempest.  The  unveiled 
daughters  of  everflowing  Oceanos  her  servants  made 
haste  to  accompany  the  Archeress  :  one  moved  her 
swift  knees  as  her  queen's  forerunner,  another  tucked 
up  her  tunic  and  ran  level  not  far  off,  a  third  laid  a 
hand  on  the  basket  of  the  swiftmoving  car  and  ran 
alongside.  Archeress  diffusing  radiance  from  her  face 
stood  shining  above  her  attendants,  as  when  Selene  in 
her  heavenly  chariot  sends  forth  the  flame  of  her  ever- 
wakeful  fires  in  a  shower  of  cloudless  beams,  and  rises 
in  full  refulgence  among  the  firefed  stars,  obscuring 
the  whole  heavenly  host  with  her  countenance  ^  : 
radiant  Uke  her,  Archeress  traversed  the  forest,  until 
she  reached  the  place  where  the  heavenfallen  waters 
of  Sangarios  river  are  drawn  in  a  murmuring  stream. 
^28  Then  Aura  checked  her  swinging  whip,  and  hold- 
ing up  the  prickets  with  the  golden  bridles,  brought 
the  radiant  car  of  her  mistress  to  a  standstill  beside 
the  stream.    The  goddess  leapt  out  of  the  car^  Upis  <* 

^  They  were  of  the  same  mythical  breed  as  the  one  caught 
by  Heracles  in  his  fourth  labour,  cf.  Callimachos,  Hymn  iii. 
105  ff.     Hence  the  horns,  though  they  were  female. 

"  Since  to  Nonnos  Artemis  is  the  moon,  the  simile  is 
natural. 

<*  Upis,  Hecaerge  and  Loxo  the  Hyperborean  virgins  of 
Delos,  cf.  Call.  Hymn  iv.  292. 

447 


NONNOS 

*ilK€apov  &€  OvyaTp€9  ciwAoico  bUrva  B^jfffli' 
fcou  Kwa^  .  .  . 

MpofiiBa^  Si  «ro5afr  dmXAfaro  Ao^cu. 
1}  hi  fuarjfjLfipiiovaa  o4fiaf  ^tAovd^tftvor  olSofir      M 

aKpoPa^  Kara  P<ui¥  hfaortCKaumi  x^raiva,  » 

dfL<t>i7r€pia^yYovaa  iMas  6tivfidon  firip^  tM 

icptnrr6fi€Vov  fi€rpfffio¥  SXo¥  hdfios  IkAvcc  Kovpfti,    M 
Ao^d  5c  ira7rrau<ovaa  5i*  vSorof  c&ricovof  AJ/ny 
ToXfL-qpoU  ^€^iifioun¥  dpoil^rjiTtMO  wpoowwmt 
dyvoy  dBtf^froiO  64fAas  5ufi^/>cf  KQVfnft, 
ddoKtXov  tiaopowaa  aii6^pO¥OS  cOof  dWovi/^* 
icai  7ro5a9  anXataaaa  rvnwfOiUvuiv  woXofidufV  %U 

halfMovt  ^X^fityfl  ovvtvrp(€ro  vapBivos  Avptj, 

lKfiaX€a9  paBdpxyya^  dirocfi'^aaa  KOfidat¥  .  .  • 
'ApT€/xi9  dyporipnri'  ax€B6$€v  W  04  dypdrts  Au/nj 
/xa^ou?  d/x^o^ooKTa  Ocijfidxoy  t^X'  ^f"*^'  38( 

"  *ApT€^U,  fiowov  <X**^ 

^iKofwdfd€VCV   OWOpjd    KOVpVfS,  35] 

oTTt  8  id  ar€pvwv  Ktxo^fUfiUvov  dvrvya  ^i}Ai79 
^Auv<;(fiy  ria^iiyy,  ouic  apacva  ftafdv  *Aft}i^, 
KoX  poBcov^  anivBrjpas  durr€VOvat  mptuu' 
dXXd  Sc/xas"  fi€d€novaa  noBofiXifroiO  Btalyrff  351 

Kai  av  ydfiwv  Paai\ev€  aw  dfipoKopup  Kv6€p€ijj, 
8€^afi€V7)  OaXdfjLoi^  nvd  yvfi^iov  rjv  8*  €6€Xijajj^, 
'Epfieljj  7Tapiav€  Koi  '\p€l,  X€u/tov  *Aftj»ojK* 
448 


i 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  332-358 

took  the  bow  from  her  shoulders,  and  Hecaerge  the 
quiver ;  the  daughters  of  Oceanos  took  off  the  well- 
strung  hunting-nets,  and  [another  took  charge  of]  the 
dogs ;  Loxo  loosed  the  boots  from  her  feet.  She  in 
the  midday  heat  still  guarded  her  maiden  modesty  in 
the  river,  moving  through  the  water  with  cautious 
step,  and  lifting  her  tunic  little  by  little  from  foot  to 
head  with  the  edge  touching  the  surface,  keeping  the 
two  feet  and  thighs  close  together  and  hiding  her 
body  as  she  bathed  the  whole  by  degrees."  Aura 
looked  sideways  through  the  water  with  the  daring 
gaze  of  her  sharp  eyes  unashamed,  and  scanned  the 
holy  frame  of  the  virgin  who  may  not  be  seen,  ex- 
amining the  divine  beauty  of  her  chaste  mistress  ; 
virgin  Aura  stretched  out  her  arms  and  feet  at  full 
length  and  swam  by  the  side  of  the  swimming 
divinity.  Now  Artemis  lady  of  the  hunt  [stood]  half 
visible  on  the  river  bank,  and  wrung  out  the  drip- 
ping water  from  her  hair ;  Aura  the  maid  of  the 
hunt  stood  by  her  side,  and  stroked  her  breasts 
and  uttered  these  impious  words  : 

^^  "  Artemis,  you  only  have  the  name  of  a  virgin 
maid,  because  your  rounded  breasts  are  full  and  soft, 
a  woman's  breasts  like  the  Paphian,  not  a  man's  like 
Athena,  and  your  cheeks  shed  a  rosy  radiance  !  ^ 
Well,  since  you  have  a  body  like  that  desirous  goddess, 
why  not  be  queen  of  marriage  as  well  as  Cythereia 
with  her  wealth  of  fine  hair,  and  receive  a  bride- 
groom into  your  chamber  ?  If  it  please  you,  leave 
Athena   and   sleep  with    Hermes   and   Ares.     If  it 

«  Much  as  if  she  had  been  a  woman  of  the  fellahin  fording 
a  river.  This  prudery  is  of  course  quite  alien  to  the  classical 
Artemis. 

^  i.e.  you,  being  feminine  and  desirable,  are  really  virgin ; 
Athena  is  merely  sexless. 

VOL.  Ill  2  Q  449 


NOSNOS 

rjv  a*  cWA^f .  ovocipc  P^Xos  teal  r6(o¥  'Epuniu¥, 
€1  fi€ddn€i^  Bpaaifv  otarpo¥  6iaTOK6§tou>  ^apirpt)^.  360 
IXriKoi  T€6v  cfSos"  iyw  ado  /ioAAor  aptium' 
h€pK€0,  nat^ jLtBinui  ficuipiv  hduaf  iJyAc  pop^rfp 
apG€va  Kol  it^vpoio  iotimpov  i^nor  ACpff^' 
h4pK€o,  ircji  <p^piy6u>Q%  ppaxiof^i'  i^WSt  pa^ot^ 
op<l>ajcas  otSaiPoyrat  oBi^as'  i)  Ta^a  ^euif^,  96.% 

oTTi  Tcoi  yAayocooo*'  avafi\viovat¥  Upatp^' 
TTtxt^  naXdpTjv  ptBiittii  aitaXoxpofi;    ^ots  ado  /ia{ot 
ov  riva  kvkXov  fyovat  W€pirpoxo¥,  <Ad  mp  Avptit, 
avroparoi  tc^puKts  aav^rfroio  tcopii^;  " 

'Ew€ir€  K€pTOfjL4ovoa'  KaTTf^iouHm  bi  atyS  S70 

awvopx>s  otSomMTt  x^^  tevpaivrro  haifUifv, 
Kol  ^viovi  ani¥$i)paf  ayrffcoiTi^ov  imtamai' 
€K  npoxorj^  a*  oWiroAro.  naXiv  5*  h^iWH  ;(iT<ii>Mi, 
KoX  KoJdapai^  Xay6mofn  r6  ht&rtpa^  ^ppoo€  jurprjv 
axyvpdvf).    fidptatv  B^  ftm^uy*  c^  A  ttooprip       376 
wpiv€4mmipa  Tavpov,  anj)  irap6,  ytlrovt  KvSvtp 
iravc€  TiHftaovirf^  w/nvxtva  K6pno¥  airciA^* 
#cat  rpoxos  avroKvkurroi  hjv  napa  iroaoiM  dvdawj^ 
arjfiaivwv,  ori  Trdyras  ay^pfopas  mU  wdSo¥  cAicc* 
ihI*6$€v  ccAu^oioaa  Son^  vour/jfTopi  KiUcXip,  380 

^Cpwv  TTotSapdrfipa,  fiiov  orput^waa  nop^Lipf 

•  Cf.  ii.  553  ff..  where  however  Ncmolt  doet  aot  appear. 

»  The  attributrs  of  Netnesit  here  Aem  wh»t  •  lo^f  vaj 
she  had  t  ravel  kx)  from  the  loal  goddcM  of  Rhamniu  io 
Attica,  who  had  nothinar  abstract  aoout  bar  to  ht^n  « ith  hut 
was  a  minor  deity  loved  oo  orr'TJim  by  Z»M,  ana  erca  from 
the  Hellenistic  Nemesis,  whoae  doter  aatodatioo  with  the  Idea 
of  divine  vengeance  overtakioif  the  too  pimpeiOMi  and  over- 
confident is  shown  by  the  chanurteristk  attitude  of  her  statues, 
which  are  represented  as  spitting  into  the  bfeait-fold  of  hrr 
garment  {cf.  Theocr.  vi.  39).  to  avert  envy.  L4Mig  before  the 
days  of  Nonnos,  she  had  l^eoomc  a  pcrwolfloiilioa  of  tiie 
450 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  359-381 

please  you,  take  up  the  bow  and  arrows  of  the  loves, 
if  your  passion  is  so  strong  for  a  quiver  full  of  arrows. 
I  ask  pardon  of  your  beauty,  but  I  am  much  better 
than  you.  See  what  a  vigorous  body  I  have  !  Look 
at  Aura's  body  like  a  boy's,  and  her  step  swifter 
than  Zephyros  !  See  the  muscles  upon  my  arms, 
look  at  my  breasts,  round  and  unripe,  not  like  a 
woman.  You  might  almost  say  that  yours  are 
swelling  with  drops  of  milk  !  Why  are  your  arms 
so  tender,  why  are  your  breasts  not  round  like 
Aura's,  to  tell  the  world  themselves  of  un violated 
maidenhood  ?  " 

3^0  So  she  spoke  in  raillery  ;  the  goddess  listened 
downcast  in  boding  silence.  Waves  of  anger  swelled 
in  her  breast,  her  flashing  eyes  had  death  in  their 
look.  She  leapt  up  from  the  stream  and  put  on 
her  tunic  again,  and  once  more  fitted  the  girdle 
upon  her  pure  loins,  offended.  She  betook  her- 
self to  Nemesis,  and  found  her  on  the  heights  of 
Tauros  in  the  clouds,  where  beside  neighbour 
Cydnos  she  had  ended  the  proudnecked  boasting 
of  Typhon's  threats.'*  A  wheel  turned  itself  round 
before  the  queen's  feet,  signifying  that  she  rolls  all 
the  proud  from  on  high  to  the  ground  with  the  aveng- 
ing wheel  of  justice,  she  the  allvanquishing  deity 
who  turns  the  path  of  life.^     Round  her  throne  flew 

power  which  lays  the  froward  low  and  redresses  the  balance 
of  life.  To  express  this,  the  ingenuity  of  Imperial  times 
heaped  upon  her  a  multitude  of  emblems,  of  no  significance 
in  cult  but  purely  allegorical.  Her  wheel  is  borrowed  from 
Tyche  ;  it  may  be  that  a  line  or  two  has  fallen  out  before  385 
which  said  she  carried  a  whip  ;  certainly  she  scourges  men 
like  a  whip  in  387,  and  this  attribute  belongs  in  the  last 
instance  to  the  Erinyes.  The  griffin  is  shown  at  her  feet 
in  some  late  representations  of  her  in  art.  It  would  seem  that 
there  existed  written  directions  how  to  paint  or  carve  her  :  cf. 

451 


NONN06 

dfx<f>l  B4  ol  irtrr^TTfTO  impi  ^p^ror  Sfmg  aXtiartapt 
Ypinp  7Tr€p6tii,  truTvpatv  hk  nMSw  irov^rro  iroA/iJi 
Salfxovos  lirra^Umr^  aMiyytXof,  Srrt  ml  aMj 
r4rpax^  fjLoipirjd4vra  Si/p^^rrcu  Shftaya  K6afunf'         |85 

ayrirvnov  fufirffui,  koa  utt  iCQjr<^Tiyrot  ^ida€Xjj, 
CU9  rpoxov  avTOKvXum¥,  ayfivopa  ^ana  Ki/Xiv^tt. 
eyvoi  5*  c^  Mffot  B^a  x<^o<m»'^»  wpoawm^ 
"Aprtfuv  dxyvfLtyrp^  ^o^V  'f^j^ovoaif  dwmXfft,        390 
Koi  fuv  dvtipofi^vrj  ^tXiqt  futXi^aro  iMff 

'Aprtfu,  TiV  kAoiVci  0€  Brrnidxpi  Mi  *Kpo4piffi; 

TiV  TToLXiv  ipXaoTTfotv  vvip  &iir/5oio  Tv^wm; 

fiTj  Tirvoi  naXivopooi  iput§iat4s  Ofifui  nromur       SOi 

cifiaro^  a^voToco  Tf%  hfnMttn  rtiwwnfi; 

"Aprtfii,  rrfi  a4o  rdfa  koI  *AwoXXutvof  durroi; 

ri9  TrdAtv  *Qplut¥  a€  fiidlenu;    sMn  mwnu 

Ktlvo^t  Of  vfur^poio  rdXais  hiravot  x^rumK, 

firp-pos  €Gw  \ay6¥ta¥  vdtcvf  &W9ooq'  €l  h4  n/s  dy^p  400 

X^pai  noOopXi^oiai  rtuf¥  ^pafaro  iri-nXutv, 

GKopniov  dXXov  dt(€  Ttijs  irouo/ropa  fUTpf)^' 

ovJvyiT^i'  /xcvcouvc  tccuv  atcix^JTOv  *KpatTut¥, 

icr€lvov  dwp^vroio  tc^  /iyi7<rr^pa  Kop€irfS'  4M 

€1  8c  yim7  TroAtn-ocMo;  avuijci  oi^o  Arjrw, 

aXXrj  X<uv€T)  'SioP-q  icAatxrctc  ycW^Aijv 

Ti9  <f>$6vos,  €t  A/^v  oAAov  inr^p  £iiruAo4o  rcAcoaw; 


the  curious  drscription  in  AmmUnus  Marcrllinus  zhr.  1 1.  M, 
where  the  attributes  are  wiogs,  the  wheel  and  a 

452 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  382-408 

a  bird  of  vengeance,  a  griffin  flying  with  wings, 
or  balancing  himself  on  four  feet,  to  go  unbidden 
before  the  flying  goddess  and  show  that  she  herself 
traverses  the  four  separate  quarters  of  the  world : 
highcrested  men  she  bridles  with  her  bit  which  none 
can  shake  off,  such  is  the  meaning  of  the  image, 
and  she  rolls  a  haughty  fellow  about  as  it  were  with 
the  whip  of  misery,  like  a  self-rolling  wheel."  When 
the  goddess  beheld  Artemis  with  pallid  face,  she 
knew  that  she  was  offended  and  full  of  deadly 
threatenings,  and  questioned  her  in  friendly 
words  : 

^2  '•  Your  looks,  Archeress,  proclaim  your  anger. 
Artemis,  what  impious  son  of  Earth  persecutes  you  ? 
What  second  Typhoeus  has  sprung  up  from  the 
ground  ?  Has  Tityos  risen  again  rolling  a  lovemad 
eye,  and  touched  the  robe  of  your  untouchable 
mother  ?  Where  is  your  bow,  Artemis,  where  are 
Apollo's  arrows  ?  What  Orion  is  using  force  against 
you  once  more  ?  The  wretch  that  touched  your  dress 
still  lies  in  his  mother's  flanks,  a  lifeless  corpse  ; 
if  any  man  has  clutched  your  garments  with  lustful 
hands,  grow  another  scorpion  to  avenge  your  girdle. 
If  bold  Otos  again,  or  boastful  Ephialtes,  has  desired 
to  win  your  love  so  far  beyond  his  reach,  then  slay 
the  pretender  to  your  unwedded  virginity.  If  some 
prolific  wife  provokes  your  mother  Leto,  let  her  weep 
for  her  children,  another  Niobe  of  stone.  Why 
should  not  I  make   another  stone  on  Sipylos  ?     Is 

but  no  griffin.  For  more  details,  see  the  elaborate  article 
*'  Nemesis  "  by  O.  Rossbach  in  Roscher's  Lexikon,  especially 
cols.  136-137,  159-160. 

«  The  text  is  very  obscure,  perhaps  defective  (see  note  on 
378),  and  the  translation  uncertain. 

453 


NONNOS 

fiTJ  at  narrip  Sta  Xttrrpa  furA  yXavtcwnw  op(p€t; 
fiTf  Ttov  'Epfidutvi  ydfimf  irar^iwac  K^wWcur,  410 

ola  Koi  'UtfHuartft  icafiapffs  jyi.^*aior  'A^^in^; 
€1  5^  ytfvti  KXovtu  09,  T9^  St9  ItfT^pa  Aiptu, 
€aaofiai  axyviUvyji  rtfL'^opof  2o)^aipi;f." 

Ou  nut  fivBo^  Aijyw*  oAc^anLr^  h^  Btaifjn 
TOiov  rnoi  ^SofUvri  atcvXasforp64oi  Sax*  m^^'         419 

"  UapB^  naifSafLdmpa,  tcvfi^p^iffrtipa  ytp4BXri^, 
od  2Uu9,  oi$  Ni^^  fu.  Kid  od  Bpaiabi  ^Qror  6pUt€i- 
ov  TiTuof  PaBvwtnXo¥  iiiifif  iptotlpaot  AifTw* 
oi)  i^o9  *OpiUf¥  fic  /Suifmu,  iM^  *Kpo6ffiff 
dXAa  ftc  Ktfnofidovaa  papArrofiOf  6(4i  fuSBift  4M 

7Jtcax€  ArfXavTOio  wdis,  twrwafiBt¥i>s  Av/ni' 
oAAa  Ti  ooi  roSc  irai^ra  5«4fofiai;    oMoyioi  yap 

/xiTTpi  S*  ^/ig  vQfio¥  Sikyof  6§MoUo¥'  d^i^^npor  yap 
cv  ^pvyvQ  fiiofiii  Mtiyiiyr^icor  ijioax'  Aip^«  425 

ic€u  iroAiv  ci^  ^pvytji  /m  Brrifiaxof  rficaxtv  Avpt)- 
oAA*  i}  fi€v  vd^oF  ctSoc  Aftft^Ktfi^rri  w6pf  in>un^¥, 
TavroAt;  omyroircta,  iral  cur/n  8<£ir/NMi  AciJSrc 
ofifJLaai  irvrpaLoiaw  awifi€UMa  hk  fiOWTj 
alaxo^  €xca  vjjnoivov,  in€i  ^tXowiifi$€VOi  Avpnri         43Q 
5cucpt;atv  ov  Ati^ov  ilyt  XtXovfUvoiP,  ovk  iSc  vriyj)v 

*  Here  once  nK»re  Nonnos  ghret  at  a  mythokviod  caU- 
logue,  this  time  of  the  Tarioiu  impfaNMjpemoft  who  had  tried 
to  violate  Artemis  or  her  mother.  Titiras  aMaahcd  Leto 
shortly  after  the  birth  of  her  twins,  and  Apollo  and  Artrmit 
killed  him  with  their  arrows;  for  Orkms  birth  from  the 
454 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  409-431 

your  father  pestering  you  to  marry  as  he  did 
with  Athena  ?  Surely  Cronion  has  not  promised  you 
to  Hermes  for  a  wife,  as  he  promised  pure  Athena 
to  Hephaistos  in  wedlock  ?  But  if  some  woman  is 
persecuting  you  as  one  did  to  your  mother  Leto,  I 
will  be  the  avenger  of  the  offended  Archeress."" 

^*  She  had  not  finished,  when  the  puppybreeding 
maiden  broke  in  and  said  to  the  goddess  who  saves 
from  evil  : 

416  "  Virgin  all  vanquishing,  guide  of  creation,  Zeus 
pesters  me  not,  nor  Niobe,  nor  bold  Otos  ;  no  Tityos 
has  dragged  at  the  long  robes  of  my  Leto  ;  no  new 
son  of  Earth  like  Orion  forces  me  :  no,  it  is  that  sour 
virgin  Aura,  the  daughter  of  Lelantos,  who  mocks 
me  and  offends  me  with  rude  sharp  words.  But  how 
can  I  tell  you  all  she  said  ?  I  am  ashamed  to  describe 
her  calumny  of  my  body  and  her  abuse  of  my  breasts. 
I  have  suffered  just  as  my  mother  did  :  we  are  both 
alike — in  Phrygia  Niobe  offended  Leto  the  mother  of 
twins,  in  Phrygia  again  impious  Aura  offended  me. 
But  Niobe  paid  for  it  by  passing  into  a  changeling 
form,  that  daughter  of  Tantalos  whose  children  were 
her  sorrow,  and  she  still  weeps  with  stony  eyes  ;  I 
alone  am  insulted  and  bear  my  disgrace  without 
vengeance,  but  Aura  the  champion  of  chastity  has 
washed  no  stone  with  tears,  she  has  seen  no  fountain 

ground,  see  xiii.  99  ff. ;  the  allusion  here  is  to  his  trying  to 
violate  Artemis,  and  being  killed  (not,  as  often,  by  her  arrows, 
but)  by  the  scorpion  which  sprang  up  from  the  earth  ;  a  con- 
flation of  two  versions,  for  the  scorpion  is  properly  the  divine 
answer  to  his  premature  boast  that  he  could  kill  all  beasts. 
Otos  and  Ephialtes  wanted  to  marry  Artemis,  and  by  a  trick 
of  hers  or  Apollo's  they  killed  each  other,  c/.  Hyginus,  Fab.  28. 
3 ;  they  were  the  gigantic  sons  of  Poseidon  and  Iphimedeia. 
The  story  of  Niobe  needs  no  re-telling  (406  ff.) ;  for  the 
attempt  to  make  Athena  marry  Hephaistos,  see  on  xiii.  172. 

455 


NONNOS 

fjLWfiov  dnayyiXXovaav  d^Mot  Mtpt^tvot* 
dXXa  crv  tcvSaivovcm  rrfiv  TirffMa  4^^^ 

Xaiv€T)9  driyaKTov  dfi€ifio§iiirtft  hd^tas  Kvp/ffii'  411 

/i^  fjioi  cVcy/cAociKFoy  3o>  wt^AiV  drpomom  \vpnfv, 

*Q;  ^ofiCKv/v  Bdpa%r¥t  Btd  irol  dfuifirro  fwBi^' 

Tirrivwv  ycyavid  iraAamiTOV  alfu&  icai  ai^, 

yLTi  tro/ri  fun  fUfJufnuro  irari^p  Aifkamt  iM9Uwv 

€v  h€  ooi,  tox^oipa,  xa^ofMU*  iyp&ng  ASpfff  44- 

icai  fjuv  toaSpnffatia^  dp€aoixyTov  S««L  ir^Airov 
hoLKpvat  nrjyaioiaw  dSvpOfUvfp^  in  fiirpirjv." 

Etnt  TraprfyoptODoa'  koX  ovp€a  KoXXiirt  Kovpti 
"Aprtfus  €iofUyrj  ictfjudhijav  rtrpdl^vyt  hl^pqf,  480 

Kol  ^pvyiTf^  cW/3(Uvcv.    6fu>lTfXtp  bi  noptiji 
irapB^vos  *ASpi^ar€ia  fim^ic  hvaiuixp¥  ASpnjVt 
ypuna^  dfiiXXrfrijpaf  imo(cufaaa  ;(oAu^' 
icat  raxivrj  Trc^^n/ro  5i'  ij4po^  of  A  hi^ptp, 
KoX  Spofiov  €(rrqpi(€v  ^tp  Liiru^oco  tcapfffwfif  455 

Toin-oAiSo?  TTpondpoi0€  \i0cy\rfvoto  npoaamov, 
imrjvcbv  T€Tpa7r6S<jjv  oKoXto^  a^yyovaa  xaXufou^. 
Avpr]s  S*  iyyvs  ucav€V  dyi^vopos'  i^Mno¥  S^ 
aux^va  5€tAat7^9  o^^woSci  rti^^  IfidaOXr), 
Kai  fuv  avecmx^Aif  €  Sun;?  rpoxo€vUi  kvkXm,  460 

icot  >w)v  d4>pova  Kdfjuptv  dKo^inw'  d^  &<  h^'^PV^ 
4^6 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  432-461 

declaring  the  faults  of  her  uncontrolled  tongue.  I 
pray  you,  uphold  the  dignity  of  your  Titan  birth. 
Grant  me  a  boon  like  my  mother,  that  I  may  see 
Aura's  body  transformed  into  stone  immovable  ; 
leave  not  a  maiden  of  your  own  race  in  sorrow,  that 
I  may  not  see  Aura  mocking  me  again  and  not  to 
be  turned — or  let  your  sickle  of  beaten  bronze  drive 
her  to  madness  !  " 

^^  She  spoke,  and  the  goddess  replied  with  en- 
couraging words  : 

*^  "  Chaste  daughter  of  Leto,  huntress,  sister  of 
Phoibos,  I  will  not  use  my  sickle  to  chastise  a  Titan 
girl,  I  will  not  make  the  maiden  a  stone  in  Phrygia, 
for  I  am  myself  born  of  the  ancient  race  of  Titans,  and 
her  father  Lelantos  might  blame  me  when  he  heard  : 
but  one  boon  I  will  grant  you,  Archeress.  Aura  the 
maid  of  the  hunt  has  reproached  your  virginity,  and 
she  shall  be  a  virgin  no  longer.  You  shall  see  her  in 
the  bed  of  a  mountain  stream  weeping  fountains  of 
tears  for  her  maiden  girdle." 

^^  So  she  consoled  her  ;  and  Artemis  the  maiden 
entered  her  car  with  its  team  of  four  prickets,  left  the 
mountain  and  drove  back  to  Phrygia.  With  equal 
speed  the  maiden  Adrasteia  <*  pursued  her  obstinate 
enemy  Aura.  She  had  harnessed  racing  griffins 
under  her  bridle  ;  quick  through  the  air  she  coursed 
in  the  swift  car,  until  she  tightened  the  curving  bits 
of  her  fourfooted  birds,  and  drew  up  on  the  peak  of 
Sipylos  in  front  of  the  face  of  Tantalos's  daughter  ^ 
with  eyeballs  of  stone.  Then  she  approached  the 
haughty  Aura.  She  flicked  the  proud  neck  of  the 
hapless  girl  with  her  snaky  whip,  and  struck  her 
with  the  round  wheel  of  justice,  and  bent  the  foolish 

°  Nemesis.  *  Niobe. 

457 


NONN08 

*ApyoXis  'A8/w}oT€ia-  ;|^apc{o/«^i^  ii  Btaiyfj, 
Kol  fiaXa  TTcp  Korr4o%rn  Koaivy^tft  Aiovvotft, 
umXia€v  dXXoy  ipatra,  Koi  <i  vlKt  yrjif  *Kp<»rTwtf,    4AA 
UaXXriyrf^  fitra  Xitrroa,  fitra  ^BtfUvw  *ApuliBvipf, 
rqv  fi€v  X€iirofuyT)y  ivi  warpCU,  tAt  o*  m  ycujj 
dXXoTpiT)  TTtrpdiou,  *Axiutbo9  w^  pp€Tat  'llfni^, 
Kol  Bcpdiif  noXv  fLaXXo¥  ommnMrrwy  n€fH  Xitrrpaty, 

Koi  N€/i€ai9  ircir^n/ro  wttfopXtfrtp  ntxpa  Tomp^,  470 
tlaoKt  Ku5i«ov  ucayv  r^  Sct^pot^.    a^i^  5^  Kovpjj 
ifjSvpoXu}^  AiOioMyov  '^Ki^r  €>Urrprf<nv  ^tarw, 
teal  Trrcoa  kv^cAohmv  cvff/9i{(mro  ko0^O9  *OAi^ivov. 

Kat  aco9  ovp€if{^09rot  l^aAoom  /i</(om  wpo^* 

€X7riSa  Kvnpthap^,  o^  ^dpuoKov  cfycv  'E^omui'' 
dAAa  fuv  t^Xtyt  fiaXXov    iSmos  Bt^l^povt  nvpa^ 
OvioBo^  o^lnrlkiorwf  dvtMof  tU  ydfuiP  Auoi^. 
Kcu  fioyiwv  €Kpvnr€v  iw  96Bo¥,  oil^*  ivl  Xi^Quus 
KvTTpibiois  odpourw  6fJuXt€v  iyyvBtv  Avfnfs,  4M> 

/xij  fuv  oAvaira^ctc.    rl  tcwrtpop,  ^  ore  fioGvoi 
dv€p€s  lfi€ipovai,  Koi  od  vodiovai  Ywauc€f; 
Kal  p.iBtiTt  7rpa7T&€aai  ntrnfyiUvov  lov  *E^>cur(iN', 
nap$€vo^  Ci  hpofiov  tt^t  Kwoaooov  €vhoOi  Xoxf^rj^- 
Ktmpihiois  8*  aytfAoiaiv  ofipofifvoio  j^troinx  **«' 

fJLTjpov  oTTiTrcuoiv  &rfXuv€ro  DOJCXtK  iitrjrrif, 
6*li€  &€  Tra^d^ovTi  noOw  h€hovTjfi^vo^  Avpris 
Ba#f)^09  dfi7)xay^wv  €iros  lax^  Xvouahi  ^wv^' 

*  So  KeydcU :  Ludwkfa  4a.fi<U».  •iter  Lt  M  ^IwAU. 

•  Nemesis  is  called  Adrasteia,  if  we  may  bettew  Antf- 
machos  of  C  olopbon,   Fr«|f.   53   Wjtm,  bccMMe  Ae  was 
honoured  by  Adrastos  king  of  Ariros.    The  real  ooni 
between  the  two  names  is  of  course  that  they  both 
458 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  462-488 

unbending  will.  Argive^  Adrasteia  let  the  whip 
with  its  vipers  curl  round  the  maiden's  girdle,  doing 
pleasure  to  Artemis  and  to  Dionysos  while  he  was 
still  indignant ;  and  although  she  was  herself  un- 
acquainted with  love,  she  prepared  another  love, 
after  the  bed  of  Pallene,  after  the  loss  of  Ariadne 
— one  was  left  in  her  own  country,  one  was  a  stone 
in  a  foreign  land  like  the  statue  of  Achaian  Hera — 
and  more  than  all  for  the  ill  success  with  Beroe's  bed. 

^"^^  Nemesis  now  flew  back  to  snowbeaten  Tauros 
until  she  reached  Cydnos  again.  And  Eros  drove 
Dionysos  mad  for  the  girl  with  the  delicious  wound 
of  his  arrow,  then  curving  his  wings  flew  lightly  to 
Olympos. 

^^*  And  the  god  roamed  over  the  hills  scourged  with 
a  greater  fire.  For  there  was  not  the  smallest  comfort 
for  him.  He  had  then  no  hope  of  the  girl's  love,  no 
physic  for  his  passion  ;  but  Eros  burnt  him  more 
and  more  with  the  mindbewitching  fire  to  win  mad 
obstinate  Aura  at  last.  With  hard  struggles  he  kept 
his  desire  hidden  ;  he  used  no  lover's  prattle  beside 
Aura  in  the  woods,  for  fear  she  might  avoid  him. 
What  is  more  shameless,  than  when  only  men  crave, 
and  women  do  not  desire  ?  Wandering  Bacchos  felt 
the  arrow  of  love  fixt  in  his  heart  if  the  maiden  was 
hunting  with  her  pack  of  dogs  in  the  woods  ;  if  he 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  thigh  when  the  loving  winds 
lifted  her  tunic,  he  became  soft  as  a  woman.  At 
last  buffeted  by  his  tumultuous  desire  for  Aura, 
desperate  he  cried  out  in  mad  tones — 

"  unavoidable,"  the  one  being  the  sure  vengeance  which 
overtakes  the  wrongdoer,  the  other  a  great  king  and  warrior 
whose  power  none  could  escape.  Nonnos  is  showing  off 
his  knowledge,  whether  first-hand  or  not,  of  Antimachos's 
learned  poem,  the  Thebais. 

459 


NONNOS 

**  Ilai^  tyw  Svatporroi  €x«u  n^vor,  ^rrl/iM  ^tfiyn 

TrAafcTOi  aanqpiKrtK  d^rf^frov  wXimf  'H^owf. 
oXPi€,  Udv,  Bpofiioio  noXv  wXiom,  &m  fiartvwv 
if>apfjLaKov  €^/>€9  ipatrof  M  ^p€VO$tXy^i  ^cm^' 
aov  KTvnov  vartpo^unfos  d^tfimu  currarcK    H)^ 
<f>d€yyofi4irq  XdXoy  i^vor  6uoUo¥'  olVc  ttaJi  aMi        Uk 
€K  arofidrutv  tva  fivio¥  anj^W)^  wapBivot  Avpff, 
o^os  €pcji  ov  ndaw  ofiouot'  od^  yap  oM^ 
nap6€i'iKaX^  €T4pj)ou^  6§i6Tpom9¥  i)^  dt(€i. 
rroiov  €firj^  dSwrfs  trAc  ^dp§tat(Otf;    ^  pa  4  BiX^ta 
i>€Vfiari  Kvnoi&lut;    n&T€  «ov«  w6r€  BiXytrai  ACpti  fiOO 
Kiwp,€\'oi^  pM^apoujw;    iputpawkt  S^ia  rvraimtm 
T(V  yaiiioi^  oapoun  vapanXditi  ^W^^f  ^piCTOV 
€iV  IIo^V*  ^^  'Epurra;    rls  wfuhim  Xiakji; 
ri^  hpvi  yivBov  tXtft;    r{f  Sitnnc¥  jfpa^t  wttxtfr; 
TtV  Kpavir^v  irap^irttat,  teal  cfe  ydpatf  4>"^  ^f^p^:  ** 
Trotos-  dvrjp  S^Xftitv  a#n^i}rov  v6o¥  Ai^fnrjf; 
TTOibs-  an;/)  B^Xftifv;    dpurpoxiTutvi  &€  Kovm 
rLs  ydfjLov  rj  ^iXorrrnoi  dprtfydva  Ktarov  iyuffj: 
Tiff  yXvKv  Ktvrpov  'Eparros  ^  ovvopa  Kvnpoy€V€irf9 ; 
p.aXXov  *ABrjvairj  ra^a  nttaenu'  oM  fu  ^vyti     (10 
"Apre/iiff  aTrroirjTOi,  6ao¥  ^iXomdpB€mi  Auptl. 
atdc  ^lAotff  OTopdrtaaiv  €no9  roSc  poOmm  iinifftJ' 
'  BaK;(€,  fidrrjv  iro^cccff, 

/ii7  5i{€o  napB^mm  Kvpr^v*  ** 

"EwCTTCV  OV^C/iOCVrOff  €001  X€tpMa¥09  <58€t5oiv 

cia/Mvoiff  a^'c/xoun,  iccu  cix>5/xoi  irapa  M^Vr*^  (16 

iJSu  fJL€GT]fippi^ojv  TToSaff  cwaocv,  a^i^  d€  oMptp 
K€kXito  (Tvpi^ovaav  €;^a»v  Zc^fn^coy  avptpf 
KoX  Kafidroi  koI  €pum  KaTdax€ros'  c(ofi/w  W 

4eo 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  489-518 

*^®  "  I  am  like  lovelorn  Pan,  when  the  girl  flees  me 
swift  as  the  wind,  and  wanders,  treading  the  wilder- 
ness with  boot  more  agile  than  Echo  never  seen  !  You 
are  happy,  Pan,  much  more  than  Bromios,  for  during 
your  search  you  have  found  a  physic  for  love  in  a 
mindbewitching  voice.  Echo  follows  your  tones  and 
returns  them,  moving  from  place  to  place,  and  utters 
a  sound  of  speaking  like  your  voice.  If  only  maid 
Aura  had  done  the  same,  and  let  one  word  sound 
from  her  lips  !  This  love  is  different  from  all  others, 
for  the  girl  herself  has  a  nature  not  like  the  ways  of 
other  maidens.  What  physic  is  there  for  my  pain  ? 
Shall  I  charm  her  with  lovers'  nod  and  beck  ?  Ah 
when,  ah  when  is  Aura  charmed  with  moving  eye- 
lids ?  Who  by  lovemad  looks  or  wooing  whispers  could 
seduce  the  heart  of  a  shebear  to  the  Paphian,  to 
Eros  ?  Who  discourses  to  a  honess  ?  Who  talks  to 
an  oak  ?  Who  has  beguiled  a  lifeless  firtree  ?  Who 
ever  persuaded  a  cornel-tree,  and  took  a  rock  in 
marriage  ?  And  what  man  could  charm  the  mind 
of  Aura  proof  against  all  charms  ?  What  man  could 
charm  her — who  will  mention  marriage,  or  the  cestus 
which  helps  love,  to  this  girl  with  no  girdle  to  her 
tunic  ?  Who  will  mention  the  sweet  sting  of  love 
or  the  name  of  Cyprogeneia  ?  I  think  Athena  will 
listen  sooner  ;  and  not  intrepid  Artemis  avoids  me 
so  much  as  prudish  Aura.  If  she  would  only  say  as 
much  as  this  with  her  dear  Ups — '  Bacchos,  your 
desire  is  vain  ;  seek  not  for  maiden  Aura.'  " 

51*  So  he  spoke  to  the  breezes  of  spring,  while 
walking  in  a  flowery  meadow.  Beside  a  fragrant 
myrtle  he  stayed  his  feet  for  a  soothing  rest  at  mid- 
day. He  leaned  against  a  tree  and  listened  to  the 
west  breeze  whispering,  overcome  by  fatigue  and 

461 


NONN08 

rjXiK09  avTOfUXa0pO9  vntptcSt^aoa  teop^fifiov 

Kvnpihi  nurra  ^povaa  leal  l^MMp6tin%  Auai^* 
**  Oi5  hvvarai  wort  Biixxof 

&ytuf  M  hifunay  Avprjy, 

Sca/ioif  KvnptBioun  ir^5a(  koI  X^ifiHf  iXlfai, 

■ff€  fuv  vnvwovoav  vnol^tiifas  ^fuvaloif  6S6 

Qi  Sofiivri  waXivopaos  ^|Ai)Aiia  tctvirro  B^ifU^ 
Bvaafuvi)  Spvotyra  wdXu^  h6fu>¥'  avrap  6  xd^mmf 
BoHxos  ^panoroteoun  v6o¥  w6§Mnv€P  ^ipoif, 
i/fux^  5*  Tjvtfio^'nt  atn^BwAnff  *ApMinfSg  990 

vi^ufioy  vnvtuo¥rt  wapurnfiini  A«OMWf», 
ir}Xnfujjv  urrd  irt^r/Aor  <Wi^A|»  ^dro  fu^Ap* 

"  Afu^fuiiv  Ai^rvof  rcoiK  npor4ptt¥  iftrnfolm^, 
Avpfrj^  {^Ao^  ^i  at,  KoX  ovK  aXiytif  *AmAnfft' 
wfjLoi  iyuov  Sffirrjof,  o¥  ijmnun  ntxpo^  ifp^,  99i 

wfjLoi  ^fJLov  Srfarf<K,  Sv  &Xax€v  aW/»  ^cJipn. 
ov  rdxa  fioi  ntrrpwro  ^vyttv  ilt€tSU>OKO¥  iKolrqp, 
€i  yAuAcv;  ^rrvaXrrjv  fu  Aiircy  wdof,  ayrl  Si  Ktivov 
wyu^€vBrw  hvatpant  Koi  'fmpanrji  Avauft, 
wfioi,  or  ov  Pporov  l[irxp¥  iyw  Taxymrrfiov  ojcoiTrjv,  MO 
KOI  K€v  €pu)yuiiviovTi  KOpvaao^Uyt)  ^Aovvaut 
ArjfiviaBwv  Y€v6fi7iv  arol  iyw  fua  $r)XvT€pdtov, 
oAAd  iroXxxmtpiwv  yofuW  4nifit^ropa  Xiicrputv, 
w^uf>iov  opKandrqy,  fjLcra  Oiyo^  iroi  ai  koXIoqw 
€1  Be  ac  bwpov  'Kparros  anairt^ti  a4o  v6f»4'^,  M6 

Scfo  ftot  ■qXaKorriVt  ^iXonjatov  €hvov  *Epanxam, 
of}>pa  nopus,  oB^fuart,  ^iXomcan^Xtft  a4o  vvft^ 

•  Ariadne*s  sister,  see  Euripides,  Uippolftc$  399. 

4m 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  519-547 

love  ;  and  as  he  sat  there,  a  Hamadryad  Nymph  at 
home  in  the  clusters  of  her  native  tree,  a  maiden  un- 
veiled, peeped  out  and  said,  true  both  to  Cypris  and 
to  loving  Lyaios  : 

^22  "  Bacchos  can  never  lead  Aura  to  his  bed, 
unless  he  binds  her  first  in  heavy  galling  fetters,  and 
winds  the  bonds  of  Cypris  round  hands  and  feet ; 
or  else  puts  her  under  the  yoke  of  marriage  in  sleep, 
and  steals  the  girl's  maidenhood  without  brideprice." 

^27  Having  spoken  she  hid  again  in  the  tree  her 
agemate,  and  entered  again  her  woody  home  ;  but 
Bacchos  distressed  with  lovebreeding  dreams  made 
his  mind  a  parade  :  the  soul  of  dead  Ariadne  borne 
on  the  wind  came,  and  beside  Dionysos  sleeping 
sound,  stood  jealous  after  death,  and  spoke  in  the 
words  of  a  dream  : 

^^  "  Dionysos,  you  have  forgotten  your  former 
bride  :  you  long  for  Aura,  and  you  care  not  for 
Ariadne.  O  my  own  Theseus,  whom  the  bitter  wind 
stole  !  O  my  own  Theseus,  whom  Phaidra  "  got  for 
husband  !  I  suppose  it  was  fated  that  a  perjured 
husband  must  always  run  from  me,  if  the  sweet  boy 
left  me  while  I  slept,  and  I  was  married  instead 
to  Lyaios,  an  inconstant  lover  and  a  deceiver.  Alas, 
that  I  had  not  a  mortal  husband,  one  soon  to  die  ; 
then  I  might  have  armed  myself  against  lovemad 
Dionysos  and  been  one  of  the  Lemnian  women  ^ 
myself.  But  after  Theseus,  now  I  must  call  you  too 
a  perjured  bridegroom,  the  invader  of  many  marriage 
beds.  If  your  bride  asks  you  for  a  gift,  take  this 
distaff  at  my  hands,  a  friendly  gift  of  love,  that 
you  may  give  your  mountaineering  bride  what  your 

*  Might  have  killed  him  for  unfaithfulness,  as  the  women 
of  Lemnos  did  their  men. 

463 


NOMNOB 

Swpa  refj^  aXoxov  Wwufiiof,  S^pd  rt(  €twjf 

'  SivK€  fJLtrov  Bi/<r7i  tau  iffXaK^mw  Aioiwy.' 

Kol  ou  Kara  Kpoviwva  XtxfK  §irra  Xdicrpaif  d^M^fhtv  660 

€pya  ywaifuufto^  fufki^aao  otto  rotam, 

otarpov  tlvwv  Qjc6pnjrov  g^ioi/^nVyy  *A^pMrfft* 

IloAAi^n;;,  yofiov  o28a,  tcol  ^MBabfS  ^lUPolovf 
ony}/aco  ^iXortfra  Kt^puw&of,  ^  awo  Xitcrputv         666 
rp€i9  XapiTMi  ytyoaow  6§i6lvy€t'  aXXd,  hlmcmmi, 
noTfAov  ifiov  ^iy^aoBt  Ktu  iypunv  o^i^ta  MAwwfg^ 
fcoi  ^Bwtoij^  U  ipttrra  fiuki^Miir^  'ApMrnfi, 

S\w<fiir)  tcaXtMi  Of  XP^^'^^^V^'^^  AiovMTip.'  660 

dAAa  ri  KcK^xmiiK  /i4fuo^jro^«ai;   tip  fla^iyr  y^ 
fjLtfA*^fuu  apu^oripoii,  kqX  €hfa4i  tni  AiotAfi^." 

KQi  Bpaavi  €yp€To  B^iryor 

amMJffCOwNIC   WTtpO¥      VWVOVg 

fivpofi4vriv  5*  ^irrci^v  <Wipc/i7i'  *Apidornr.  666 

KOi  SoAov  GiAAatrpoaaAAoi'  cSi^cro  tro^troi'   E^Ktfnur* 
vvym^r^  5*  *AoTa#c«So;  ftporiputv  ifiyrjoaro  XdtcTpuM^, 
nats  €parriv  hoXotrrt  nortp  wfi^vaaro  Kovprjv 
\mvov  €x^v  Trofinrja.  fu0va^aXdaf¥  vfifvaiutv. 

'O^pa  fjL€v  rj$€X€  Bcjcxoi  ^vcvnwffiy  SoW  €vvffs,  670 
To^pa  5€  ^roAri}  AiyXainiar  fljp^it  <wi^ 
niBajca  fiaartvovaa,  Karnax^riK  aSlom  Mjfl^. 
ou5€  Aa^ev  AioioKJov  op&pofiof  ooraTog  Aujp^ 

•  See  xliii.  4Si.    DkNiytos  It 
of  Meleafrros.  usually  the  urn  at 
see  Hyfirinus  Fub.  129.     Corook  M 
is  heara  of  only  here ;  she  aeeiiM  to 
Coronis  the  mother  of  .Vsdepios  by  ApoUow 
464 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  548-57.^ 

Minoian  wife  gave  you  ;  then  people  can  say — '  She 
gave  the  thread  to  Theseus,  and  the  distaff  to 
Dionysos.' 

^^  "  You  are  just  like  Cronion  changing  from  bed 
to  bed,  and  you  have  imitated  the  doings  of  your 
womanmad  father,  having  an  insatiable  passion  for 
changing  your  loves.  I  know  how  you  lately  married 
your  Sithonian  wife  Pallene,  and  your  wedding  with 
Althaia  «  :  I  will  say  nothing  of  the  love  of  Coronis, 
from  whose  bed  were  born  the  three  Graces  ever 
inseparable.  But  O  Mycenai,  proclaim  my  fate  and 
the  savage  glare  of  Medusa  !  Shores  of  Naxos, 
cry  aloud  of  Ariadne's  lot,  constrained  to  a  hateful 
love,  and  say,  '  O  bridegroom  Theseus,  Minos 's 
daughter  calls  you  in  anger  against  Dionysos  ! '  But 
why  do  I  think  of  Cecropia  ?  *  To  her  of  Paphos, 
I  carry  my  plaint  against  them  both,  Theseus  and 
Dionysos  !  " 

^^3  She  spoke,  and  her  shade  flew  away  like 
shadowy  smoke.  Bold  Bacchos  awoke  and  shook  off 
the  wing  of  Sleep.  He  lamented  the  sorrow  of 
Ariadne  in  his  dream,  and  sought  for  some  clever 
device  which  could  meet  all  needs  and  lead  him  to 
love.  First  he  remembered  the  bed  of  the  Astacid 
nymph  long  before,"  how  he  had  wooed  the  lovely 
nymph  with  a  cunning  potion  and  made  sleep  his 
guide  to  intoxicated  bridals. 

570  While  Bacchos  would  be  preparing  a  cunning 
device  for  her  bed,  Lelantos's  daughter  wandered 
about  seeking  a  fountain,  for  she  was  possessed  with 
parching  thirst.  Dionysos  failed  not  to  see  how 
thirsting  Aura  ran  rapidly  over  the  hills.     Quickly 

''  Attica,  from  its  mythical  king  Cecrops. 
"  The  story  of  Nicaia,  in  books  xv.  and  xvi. 
VOL.  Ill  2  H  4i65 


NONN08 

BulfoXdrf'  raxw^  ^  Boootv  M  irvBfUva  whfn/ft 

avTOfidrriv  a>Sii^  iUBrj¥  c^cuocf  fia^ifi 
X€Vfiari  nop^vpoyrf  xop^^W**^  ^  Avaltp 


ctvc  &€  Nc 


aoTi/^vrov  Mifulfvog  LiAaorro  rmmiof  dij^* 
cfyc  5€  Napteiaaoto  f€pti¥V$ia  ^i^Ma  KoAifiam 


Wfju^^  *Kv6ufUutv  ictoaif^  ian4tp€  SfA^n^, 
o$>  iropof  tfmponijot  ivxpoof  cStr  kw^ 
ciV  nmoy  ai>7or^iWinor  «5oir  /lop^cwlyioor  vSoip      MS 
irdr^avc,  iranra/Ktfr  oiriOffiMB  ^daumfu  fiofdifs' 
tcai  ^VTOV  €uirvoo¥  tt^tv  *AiamXairff  wkMov        6t7 
i7rrdfL€vai  h    dye Ai^^oi'  /ir*  di^iuW»Tf  fcofmfifitfi       8t» 
€iapiywv  iXiyatvov  arfi6¥€t  iMdi  dfSMttmf,  068 

Kci^i  5<  Bu/fwovaa  ^ofifipptAt  hptx^  Mfnj,     mo 

n  pdof  adprfa€i€¥  ifMOOtxyrov  mmmdlo'  008 

a/x^  S<  oi  pXt^tipoiow  "Epofi  Korixpf^  <Wx^^'  ^^ 
ciAA*  ore  B<u9^c(i;v  <Siran}A<or  cSpoirc  fniffiv,  004 

S17  rorc  Oi  fiXf^aputv  aKt6€¥  v4^Qi  ^Aaac  Ilci^ai    00S 
Totbv  ciroj  /Soocuoa  ydfiov  vpwrdyyiXov  Avpjj' 

nap6€vucq,  /ioAf  &cCpo,  TtAcoviya^uMO  5c  m/y^ 
ciV  arofia  Scfo  pitOpa,  kqX  ciy  o^  ir^Avor  oicotTT/i'." 

Kou/>7^  8'  aa/Kvo^  cISc'  trapanpoxuOtiaa  W  trT/yj 
^^ciAcaiv  oiYOfx€voiatv  car^^vatv  uefiaia  Bokyov.       000 
napStviKT}  &€  TTiouoa  toojjv  i^4yiaro  ^utvrjy 

"  NT^iaScy,  Ti  TO  Oavfjui; 

n6$€v  trlkf  v^vfiO¥  v&up; 
Tiff  TTOTOi'  cjSAiHJC  TOWTO;     T49  ovpoviri  T€K€  yoon^; 

466 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  574-603 

he  leapt  up  and  dug  the  earth  with  his  wand  at  the 
foundation  of  a  rock  :  the  hill  parted,  and  poured  out 
of  itself  a  purple  stream  of  wine  from  its  sweet- 
scented  bosom.  The  Seasons,  handmaids  of  Helios, 
to  do  grace  to  Lyaios,  painted  with  flowers  the 
fountain's  margin,  and  fragrant  whiffs  from  the  new- 
growing  meadow  beat  on  the  balmy  air.  There  were 
the  clustering  blooms  which  have  the  name  of 
Narcissos  the  fair  youth,  whom  horned  Selene's  bride- 
groom Endymion  begat  on  leafy  Latmos,  Narcissos 
who  long  ago  gazed  on  his  own  image  formed  in  the 
water,  that  dumb  image  of  a  beautiful  deceiver, 
and  died  as  he  gazed  on  the  shadowy  phantom  of  his 
shape  ;  there  was  the  living  plant  of  Amyclaian  iris  " ; 
there  sang  the  nightingales  over  the  spring  blossoms, 
flying  in  troops  above  the  clustering  flowers. 

^^  And  there  came  running  thirsty  at  midday  Aura 
herself,  seeking  if  anywhere  she  could  find  raindrops 
from  Zeus,  or  some  fountain,  or  the  stream  of  a  river 
pouring  from  the  hills  ;  and  Eros  cast  a  mist  over  her 
eyelids  :  but  when  she  saw  the  deceitful  fountain 
of  Bacchos,  Peitho  dispersed  the  shadowy  cloud  from 
her  eyelids,  and  called  out  to  Aura  like  a  herald  of 
her  marriage — 

5^7  **  Maiden,  come  this  way  !  Take  into  your  lips 
the  stream  of  this  nuptial  fountain,  and  into  your 
bosom  a  lover." 

5^  Gladly  the  maiden  saw  it,  and  throwing  her- 
self down  before  the  fountain  drew  in  the  liquid  of 
Bacchos  with  open  lips.  When  she  had  drunk,  the 
girl  exclaimed  : 

«02  "  Naiads,  what  marvel  is  this  ?  Whence  comes 
this  balmy  water  ?     Who  made  this  bubbling  drink, 

<»  Hyacinthos  once  more  ! 

467 


NONN06 

cftm^S'  toOto  ntoGaa  rrorl  hp6ua¥  ovtUrt  fiafvm* 

oAAa  n68€i  papvdown,  teal  ^fi^i  94\yofi4U  thnp,     609 

#cai  o^aXtpoy  arofidrwv  amiX6$poo¥  ^x?*^  tdXXat," 

Etn€  fcal  dtm^pucroy  ioG  ndit  cf^f  iropc/i/r* 
7JU  5'  €v6a  icoi  €v$a  voXvnXayitaaw  iputaSs 
nvKva  iT€pl  Kporra^oun  runaoo§Umio  <copi{KN;' 

nupdtvifiv  a^ijAcMrror  hnrpijnaa,  xoft^vrg* 
Kcu  irvpocif  fiapiSyavinv  'Epu^ 

oipav6d€¥  KaWvoAro,  yoXtf^foJUp  hk  wfooww^ 
fji€^i6cjv  dy6p€V€v,  6iAO^pof4tit9  Aionwifi*  619 

**  *Ayp<oaa€is,  A«owio«* 

fi/rcs  h4  at  mofBimn  ASpnfi,** 

"Qy  tlnwv  ii  'OXufiiro¥  httlyrro, 

KoX  WMpii  vdUAcur 
tiapivoU  irtrdXounv  /)^{rro  roOro  ^ofiiftMS' 
"  Wfuf>t€,  X€Krpa  riKiooo¥,  4Wf  ht  wofBhfot  cvSci* 
aiyn  c^'  riiuUav,  uti  mifMnv  (hrvos  i^tfJI*'  ^^ 

Kcu  fjuv  i&wv  *\6fiiLiex09  iw*  darpwrowYa^wrrf^ 
wfju^iov  Arfiiuov  dfiMpyofUvfjv  vrtpotf    iwvov, 
difm^o^  dHpordroiUiv  dadftflaXos  iyvcaiv  ^pftrw¥ 
Kox^v  a^vi^oto  /Acnju  bd^iviov  Avpi^* 
X^tpi  3c  ^i5o/x<>77  yXa/^priv  dn4^K€  ^apir/n/v       616 
TrapOcviKrj^,  Kal  ro^a  Kor^tcpm^  kkhXAS*  ^^'*'f'^» 
fjL-q  fuv  diar€va€i€  rtpafafUfni  imp6¥  'Ynvov 
Koi  hcofiol^  dXvroiOi  ncba^  o^Kutoaro  Kovprff^, 
K€u  TToAdfiaty  €XucqS6v  tirta^ftrjYiaaaro  atipn^, 
fiTJ  fuv  oAtHrKd^cicv*  €inorop4<ms  5^  Kovifi  630 

irap$€viKrjv  fiapwmvov  iroipordTqv  *A^poSirQ 
Avprjs  virvaXcrjs  yapirfv  ckAc^^cv  dnwfnrp^. 
468 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  604-6S2 

what  heavenly  womb  gave  him  birth  ?  Certainly 
after  drinking  this  I  can  run  no  more.  No,  my  feet 
are  heavy,  sweet  sleep  bewitches  me,  nothing  comes 
from  my  lips  but  a  soft  stammering  sound." 

^"^  She  spoke,  and  went  stumbling  on  her  way. 
She  moved  this  way  and  that  way  with  erring 
motions,  her  brow  shook  with  throbbing  temples, 
her  head  leaned  and  lay  on  her  shoulder,  she  fell 
asleep  on  the  ground  beside  a  tallbranching  tree 
and  entrusted  to  the  bare  earth  her  maidenhood 
unguarded. 

613  When  fiery  Eros  beheld  Aura  stumbling  heavy- 
knee,  he  leapt  down  from  heaven,  and  smiling  with 
peaceful  countenance  spoke  to  Dionysos  with  full 
sympathy  : 

^16  "  Are  you  for  a  hunt,  Dionysos  ?  Virgin  Aura 
awaits  you  !  " 

^^■^  With  these  words,  he  made  haste  away  to 
Olympos  flapping  his  wings,  but  first  he  had  inscribed 
on  the  spring  petals — "  Bridegroom,  complete  your 
marriage  while  the  maiden  is  still  asleep;  and  let 
us  be  silent  that  sleep  may  not  leave  the  maiden." 

^21  Then  lobacchos  seeing  her  on  the  bare  earth, 
plucking  the  Lethaean  feather  of  bridal  Sleep,  he 
crept  up  noiseless,  unshod,  on  tiptoe,  and  approached 
Aura  where  she  lay  without  voice  or  hearing.  With 
gentle  hand  he  put  away  the  girl's  neat  quiver  and 
hid  the  bow  in  a  hole  in  the  rock,  that  she  might  not 
shake  off  Sleep's  wing  and  shoot  him.  Then  he  tied 
the  girl's  feet  together  with  indissoluble  bonds,  and 
passed  a  cord  round  and  round  her  hands  that  she 
might  not  escape  him  :  he  laid  the  maiden  down  in 
the  dust,  a  victim  heavy  with  sleep  ready  for  Aphro- 
dite, and  stole  the  bridal  fruit  from  Aura  asleep.    The 

469 


N0NN08 

owopofyfj^  artrojcTOf  lw^^v0ri  Aion$0^* 

K<u  oKupaXi  nrtpvytotn  ntpta^yyw¥  aii^f  Anpi|f 

irtiprfii)  Ho^V'  '^^  o/i^vyi^  ivn  "LMfnK, 
kqX  wvi^s  ^iXonjTot  oiL&OToXifS  4<n»  *Ef€arwt^ 
Kol  yofLo^  wi  ovap  lout.    woXuaK6fi$ii4it  M  X9P*^1I 
€tV  X9po¥  airo£KucTC¥  wftOKiffrrim  teoXu^, 
tffu^ayrfs  5*  iS^vfimv  *A/ia2pMtf  ^Xuta  wilicy 
fiovtnrj  S*  i^v  dxoptVTOf  iv  oiptai  iropMvc  *Hj(ctf, 
athofjUmfj  5*  dxixftT9t  ixMrtQ  9V$it4n  wdrfnft, 
firi  ydfiou  d^pifacu  yiii«4iiai4or  AiowJoov. 
Koi  rcA^oa;  6fUvfuo¥  dSowifrwr  M  Xitcrptm 

Auac  7r<^9  itai  x<Y»f  •  <^^  airov/^ov  M  ^apiffftff 
^cipi  \aficjv  Koi  Tofa  irdA«y  irapcurbMrro  94it4'!l» 
Kal  ^Tvpwv  ax^hiv  i^Aiffcr  ^  mv^oir  ^fupolot^, 
tmvoAc'iK  aWfUMOtv  iwtrpii^f  ^X^  Avfrrff. 
vvfi^  5*  fV  ^iXSrnrof  oMpa^u'  Xuqi^X^  8^ 
tmvoi'  aKr)pvKTwv  amatloaro  pdprvy  'Epunww 
Od^p€i  5*  cuTopocixra  ooo^pomK  hcroBi  furpnrff 

fcai  yafiijf  paBdfuyyi  V€pum)ShrTa  j^^i-ruM, 
dp7Tafi€irriv  oLvatf5i«oK  dirayyAmra  Kop€trf¥, 
fialvtro  nairraivovaa'  tctu  rjpfuxrt  tcwcXaSa  furprjv 
ar€pva  naXiv  aKiocjaa,  iroi  ntfoSo;  ayrvy^*  /ia^ov 
trapdeviw  Joxttw^c  ^lampf  in^iyyrro  htajt^. 
dxyvfi€V7)  8*  oAoAu^^c,  «icarao;(CTO(  aXfuiT«  Awtny?* 
dypoi^o/xot;$-  8*  cSttofc,  »fa4  cvirrraAot;  ax<8<>»'  oxOrjs 
Tivvfiarrj  hoXoeirra  troaiv  TtowiffTopi  Btopu^ 

*  Mss.  ixna  X  Marcelluft  arrv)*^  Ludwkb  I'lirfla. 
470 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  633-663 

husband  brought  no  gift  ;  on  the  ground  that  hap- 
less girl  heavy  with  wine,  unmoving,  was  wedded  to 
Dionysos  ;  Sleep  embraced  the  body  of  Aura  with 
overshadowing  wings,  and  he  was  marshal  of  the 
wedding  for  Bacchos,  for  he  also  had  experience  of 
love,  he  is  yokefellow  of  the  moon,  he  is  companion 
of  the  Loves  in  nightly  caresses.  So  the  wedding 
was  like  a  dream  ;  for  the  capering  dances,  the 
hill  skipt  and  leapt  of  itself,  the  Hamadryad  half- 
visible  shook  her  agemate  fir — only  niaiden  Echo  did 
not  join  in  the  mountain  dance,  but  shamefast  hid 
herself  unapproachable  under  the  foundations  of  the 
rock,  that  she  might  not  behold  the  wedding  of 
womanmad  Dionysos. 

^^  When  the  vinebridegroom  had  consummated 
his  wedding  on  that  silent  bed,  he  lifted  a  cautious 
foot  and  kissed  the  bride's  lovely  lips,  loosed  the 
unmoving  feet  and  hands,  brought  back  the  quiver 
and  bow  from  the  rock  and  laid  them  beside  his 
bride.  He  left  to  the  winds  the  bed  of  Aura  still 
sleeping,  and  returned  to  his  Satyrs  with  a  breath  of 
the  bridal  still  about  him. 

^2  After  these  caresses,  the  bride  started  up  ;  she 
shook  off  limbloosing  sleep,  the  witness  of  the  unpub- 
lished nuptials,  saw  with  surprise  her  breasts  bare  of 
the  modest  bodice,  the  cleft  of  her  thighs  uncovered, 
her  dress  marked  with  the  drops  of  wedlock  that 
told  of  a  maidenhood  ravished  without  bridegift. 
She  was  maddened  by  what  she  saw.  She  fitted 
the  bodice  again  about  her  chest,  and  bound  the 
maiden  girdle  again  over  her  rounded  breast — too 
late  !  She  shrieked  in  distress,  held  in  the  throes 
of  madness  ;  she  chased  the  countrymen,  slew 
shepherds    beside   the  leafy  slopes,  to  punish  her 

471 


NONN08 

Povk6\ov  tKrav€  fidXXov,  iirtl  §idi9  PVllMo^  'Hoi^,  av 
TiBujvov  xop^n'^ra,  hval^ufiov  Matt,  fioifrff, 

Adrfuov  *Evbvfxlu»va  fitHi/¥  iXdrttpa  £cAi{rir 

'Tfivov  irucpov  ipatra,  woBopXi/jfriHO  po^^or*  070 

alrr^Kov  tteravt  uaXXcfit,  SXo¥  X'^P^  iicrtumv  QAywv 
omnroU^,  &n  Uava  ivaifupov  ISpoirc  Kovfn) 
uro^vrj  luBiiTomn,  haafhpiYOf  alyit  imrnntpf 
iXirtro  yap  fiaXa  toQto,  wMp  Mmnntkdmn  *Hxo^ 
OTTI  fjuv  imvaKitpf  ifiv^jmero  §»:iiKoif6iwt  Udf^  975 

yfionovois  3*  iSdfUiOO€  woXi^  wkU^f,  &m  iral  o^roi 
KvnpiBi  BrjT€VOwn¥,  ^tnl  w4Xt  y7«i^wog  ^bn(p, 
*\aaiu9V,  ^i^pLrjrpo^  ofioAXor^cov  vopoKO^r^* 
€Krav€  S*  ayp€VTrjpa  noXoLuniptf  nn  fi^^ 
n€iBofUyfj'  Kd^aXo¥  ydp,  ifi'^jfropos  iar^  'Atfi)ri|f«  6i0 
€kXv€  Btiprrrfyta  poioan^m  wiaw  *HoOs* 
ScLKxtirji  o    IBoiftv  ^WQ^fnforrjpas  iwwpftff, 
OTTi  ^uXaKp-qrrou}  lUBtfS  pXj&l^omts  i4ptrm 
olvopap€is  hvaipwrrt^  awoovis  tun  Amuov* 
ov  ncj  yap  S€bar)K€  SoXo^poavtnj¥  A»C¥6amf  686 

Kol  noTov  rftnponrja  ^iXoKprftov  Kv$€p€iffS, 
oAAd  ^iXoQKQniXufV  teaXifias  iximiMn  i«fti{air 
cu/xa-n  ^oiVTi^vTi  tnptppa&^oooa  tioXuva^. 

Kcu  voov  alBvoaovaa,  KaT^ayrrfK  aXfum  Xvaarif, 
Kvnpi^S  €K  ^fJLoy  '^$€V'  anttXffrijpa  Si  K€OToO   660 
XvoapAvri  ^uHrrijpa  V€OKXuKrroto  x*^rum>s 


•  Perhaps  the 

even  in  Nonnos.  Tlthonos  may  be  prawwed  kaown  to 
any  English  reader  from  Tennysoo's  poctnt  tat  Stkae 
as  driver  of  oxen,  e/.  note  oo  xlir.  217 1  EodymkNi  the 
478 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  664-691 

treacherous  husband  with  avenging  justice — still 
more  she  killed  the  oxherds  with  implacable  steel, 
for  she  knew  about  charming  Tithonos,'^  bridegroom 
of  Dawn,  the  lovelorn  oxherd,  knew  that  Selene  also 
the  driver  of  bulls  had  her  Latmian  Endymion  who 
was  busy  about  the  herds  of  cattle  ;  she  had  heard 
of  Phrygian  Hymnos  too,  and  his  love  that  made 
him  rue,  the  lovelorn  herdsman  whom  another 
maiden  slew  :  still  more  she  killed  the  goatherds, 
killed  their  whole  flocks  of  goats,  in  agony  of  heart, 
because  she  had  seen  Pan  the  dangerous  lover  with 
a  face  like  some  shaggy  goat  ;  for  she  felt  quite  sure 
that  shepherd  Pan  tormented  with  desire  for  Echo 
had  violated  her  asleep  :  much  more  she  laid  low  the 
husbandmen,  as  being  also  slaves  to  Cypris,  since  a 
man  who  tilled  the  soil,  lasion,  had  been  bedfellow 
of  Demeter  the  mother  of  sheaves.  The  huntsmen 
she  killed  believing  an  ancient  story  ;  for  she  had 
heard  that  a  huntsman  Cephalos,  from  the  country 
of  unmothered  Athena,  was  husband  of  rosecrowned 
Dawn.  Workmen  of  Bacchos  about  the  vintage  she 
killed,  because  they  are  servants  of  Lyaios  who 
squeeze  out  the  intoxicating  juice  of  his  liquor,  heavy 
with  wine,  dangerous  lovers.  For  she  had  not  yet 
learnt  the  cunning  heart  of  Dionysos,  and  the  seduc- 
tive potion  of  heady  love,  but  she  made  empty  the 
huts  of  the  mountainranging  herdsmen  and  drenched 
the  hills  with  red  blood. 

^^^  Still  frantic  in  mind,  shaken  by  throes  of  mad- 
ness, she  came  to  the  temple  of  Cypris.  She  loosed 
the  girdle  from  her  newly  spun  robe,  the  enemy 
Latmian  herdsman  (though  his  country  and  legend  alike 
vary)  was  her  love,  and  she  cast  him  into  an  unending 
sleep.  Hymnos,  cf.  xv.  204  IF. ;  lasion,  Odyssey  v.  125  ; 
Cephalos,  see  iv.  194. 

473 


NONN06 


KoX  fura  6€iov  ayoA^  «ra4  oiro^XutTOV  tfiOoBXtft^ 


b€U€Xov  afipov  'Ep€itn>f  <liti;M<^n{<  Ktmji' 

4»oiraXhi  S*  eUriyiTros'  iB^juma  Mmto  A^^^nr, 

KOi  araXucwv  hfnvot,  voAcr  8*  ^|^J^$oaTO  Bnpfrfs'     700 

o(t;  S^  Ktufcuovaa  rooipr  i^B4y(aro  ^tM/n/jy- 

€i  /i^  ifii  tcvopaaovaay  ^/nifu>v6fiW¥  iwi  Xiirrpuw 
cISof  imoK\dirrw¥  ifii^foaro  firfrUra  2Uifr.  T06 

ou5^  /ecu  'fffUT^p^v  -^aaaro  ycrroMi  *Pc^» 
dypordpovf  ficrd  tf^wf  iSamfiibw  vdiW  inptmr 
€i  h4  fUH  iirvaXifi  waptkifaro  ^oifiot  *KfMXat¥, 
n^pQto  TraaifUXovatUf  SXrfy  ntrotj^a  11  u^* 
€i  bi  ^XO^  ovAmjcv  i/io¥  KuAAi/i'ior  'E^^,  7io 

*ApKaBiTiv  irpoBiXvfUfOiy  ifUHf  piXdtatnp  6Xiaow, 
ffoi  rtX^aw  BtpamwfQM  ifiify  vpvaiifiwvtta  UtiBw' 
ct  5c  SoAoif  yofUouny  iitipilum  6fAtpaltiry 
dnpoibrf^  Atowoo;  ifiigp  aiXi)a€  Kop€iriv, 

otarpofiavij  ^i6vvaov  dwo  TfuoAoio  biw(w 

Kol  i^virjv  wfJUHaiv  ^irurpcfuujcum  ^ap^Tfnfw 

€19  Htuhov,  €19  ^pvylrfv  Baun^ofAOi'  oxi^oWpoc^  yap 

rofov  c/xoi'  ravuato,  KOi  Kvir/M5i  icou  Acovu9o>. 

ooi  nX(ov,  Lox€aipa,  ;(oA<oo|«at,  orri  /i€,  tcovfnj,       7Su 

ou  #rra»'€S'  tmvaX^v  cti  napBtvov,  ovbi  icaX  avrut 

ootff  Kadapols  p€X€«Knv  iBwpijxl^  vapofcoirji.* 

474 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  692-722 

of  the  cestus,  and  flogged  the  dainty  body  of  the 
unconquerable  goddess  ;  she  caught  up  the  statue 
of  marriage-consummating  Cythereia,  she  went  to  the 
bank  of  Sangarios,  and  sent  Aphrodite  rolling  into 
the  stream,  naked  among  the  naked  Naiads  ;  and 
after  the  divine  statue  had  gone  with  the  scourge 
twisted  round  it,  she  threw  into  the  dust  the  delicate 
image  of  Love,  and  left  the  temple  of  Cybelid 
Foamborn  empty.  Then  she  plunged  into  the 
familiar  forest,  wandering  unperceived,  handled  her 
net-stakes,  remembered  the  hunt  again,  lamenting 
her  maidenhood  with  wet  eyelids,  and  crying  loudly 
in  these  words  : 

703  "  What  god  has  loosed  the  girdle  of  my  maiden- 
hood ?  If  Zeus  Allwise  took  some  false  aspect,  and 
forced  me,  upon  my  lonely  bed,  if  he  did  not  respect 
our  neighbour  Rheia,  I  will  leave  the  wild  beasts  and 
shoot  the  starry  sky  !  If  Phoibos  Apollo  lay  by  my 
side  in  sleep,  I  will  raze  the  stones  of  worldfamous 
Pytho  wholly  to  the  ground  !  If  Cyllenian  Hermes 
has  ravished  my  bed,  I  will  utterly  destroy  Arcadia 
with  my  arrows,  and  make  goldchaplet  Peitho  ^  my 
servant  !  If  Dionysos  came  unseen  and  ravished  my 
maidenhood  in  the  crafty  wooing  of  a  dream-bridal, 
I  will  go  where  Cybele's  hall  stands,  and  chase  that 
lustmad  Dionysos  from  highcrested  Tmolos  !  I  will 
hang  my  quiver  of  death  on  my  shoulders  and  attack 
Paphos,  I  will  attack  Phrygia — I  will  draw  my  bow 
on  both  Cypris  and  Dionysos  !  You,  Archer  ess,  you 
have  enraged  me  most,  because  you,  a  maiden,  did 
not  kill  me  in  my  sleep  still  a  virgin,  yes  and  did 
not  defend  me  even  against  my  bedfellow  with 
your  pure  shafts  !  " 

"  As  being  Hermes'  wife. 

475 


N0KK08 

hoHown  vunj6€um,    rtXtomy^uuom  hk  Atmlom 
ir<uOor6Kov  irXffa0€iaa  yoifijf  ivaw^ifi9tmfs  AjSpffi      716 
hinX6ov  oyKov  acipc*  ywv^  S*  hftu/maro  4^prtft 
d(TX€ra  PaKX€v$€taa  yotrik,  hwnrifB€¥Ct  M^  .  .  . 
ri  airopo^  avroXSx^vrof  ^  Moos  i(  ^janatot¥ 
rf^  Btov  hoXioiO'  AiOf  V  iiunfoaro  vopu^* 
WXomoOs  aivoT6Kov  BcptirvrrttSof*  t^  diro  Xitcrpuf¥  7>> 
TavroAoy  ipXaoTTfot,    koI  ij^tXt  yiurripa  r^fivtw, 
o^pa  halloiUvrfs  avo  vifiAts  ^^{pOM  XSoan 
&rpo6ov  ^furiXtimm  cUonuovic  yn4ft\y. 
Kcu  fi^  ^/miCc,  8c^  oripmHo  hk  ynywoO 
h€(ir€pj  ofvdauftp  d^iiM  Moyatn^  Amir.  71.' 

9roAA(ur&  i'  o^rtronnMO  n€Tifuv  dyroa  Xiaitrrit, 
at^  K€v  iXujfhffOtu  BtXi^fumff  CiV  Aaiv  Mo^p«|(* 
oAAa  fuw  ovp€al^ro^  vWir^vvc  rapfiaXhi  $^, 
pri  fiiv  awo#rrew^i€,  /ivx^  ^'  iicfuhrrtTO  inrpffff 
UKVfivov  torffiainaiy  iirirpiifHioa  YOUM^muf.  7*0 

TToAAoiri  h    othaXloio  ywaxtctiov  oca  icdAmw 
avToifiOvos  ftcWoivcv  €Ko6a%a¥  iop  iXAoaai, 
6<f>Da  K€v  avToSducTos  ^C^a  yoarpos  iX^df 
K<u  oTOfia  r€pnofi^s  ^iXoK^proftov  loxtoifntfi' 
KQx  vo€€kv  fi€V€aiv€V  cw  nootv,  o^fi*^  *"**  f^vT^i        745 
vUa  haiTp€vo(i€v  dvoivofidvto  impaKOirQ, 
aurfi  naibix^vo^  koX  ofuwrns,  o^pd  ris  <i^* 
**  UpoKirq  TraiBoAcTctpa  v4rf  irAc  bvayofLOS  Avprj. 

Kcu  fuv  d7nn€vovaa  v4wv  iytcvfufva  ntUScuv 
"A/JTCfuj  €yyv9  uwivcv  ca»  ycAocuvn  npoacoTru},         7fiO 
BctAaii^v  8*  ip^dt^ff  KCU  aoTOpyw  ^ro  ^€ovjj' 

*'  'Yttvov  rSof,   ria^ii;?  BaXafLrjnoXov, 

cfSof  'Efxuraiy 
(avdrjs  wpAJH^Lrjs  dnan^Xia  j^cv/iara  ^n/y^* 
476 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  723-753 

723  She  spoke,  and  then  checked  her  trembling 
voice  overcome  by  tears.  And  Aura,  hapless  maiden, 
having  within  her  the  fruitful  seed  of  Bacchos  the  be- 
getter, carried  a  double  weight :  the  wife  maddened 
uncontrollably  cursed  the  burden  of  the  seed,  hap- 
less maiden  Aura  [lamented  the  loss  of  her  maiden- 
hood ;  she  knew  not]  whether  she  had  conceived  of 
herself,  or  by  some  man,  or  a  scheming  god  ;  she 
remembered  the  bride  of  Zeus,  Berecyntian  Pluto," 
so  unhappy  in  the  son  Tantalos  whom  she  bore. 
She  wished  to  tear  herself  open,  to  cut  open  her 
womb  in  her  senseless  frenzy,  that  the  child  half 
made  might  be  destroyed  and  never  be  reared.  She 
even  lifted  a  sword,  and  thought  to  drive  the  blade 
through  her  bare  chest  with  pitiless  hand.  Often 
she  went  to  the  cave  of  a  lioness  with  newborn  cubs, 
that  she  might  slip  into  the  net  of  a  willing  fate  ;  but 
the  dread  beast  ran  out  into  the  mountains,  in  fear 
of  death,  and  hid  herself  in  some  cleft  of  the  rocks, 
lea\ing  the  cub  alone  in  the  lair.  Often  she  thought 
to  drive  a  sword  willingly  through  the  swelhng  womb 
and  slay  herself  with  her  own  hand,  that  self-slain  she 
might  escape  the  shame  of  her  womb  and  the  mock- 
ing taunts  of  glad  Artemis.  She  longed  to  know  her 
husband,  that  she  might  dish  up  her  own  son 
to  her  loathing  husband,  childslayer  and  paramour 
alike,  that  men  might  say — "  Aura,  unhappy  bride, 
has  killed  her  child  like  another  Procne."  ^ 

■^^^  Then  Artemis  saw  her  big  with  new  children, 
and  came  near  with  a  laugh  on  her  face  and  teased 
the  poor  creature,  saying  with  pitiless  voice  : 

7^2  "  I  saw  Sleep,  the  Paphian's  chamberlain  !  I 
saw  the  deceiving  stream  of  the  yellow  fountain  at 

•  Cf.  i.  146.  »  Cf.  u.  136. 

477 


NONNOS 

^X*'  ^ortf)  hoXotvrt  vci{»«5cff  rfXixa  furpnff 

dfmayt  irap0€vtrf^  YH'^H*  Xuovow  i¥tlpt(f*  T&'j 

€tbov  iyw  KXdraf,  ctSov,  &rrQ  Cvyiji  wap^L  Wrp9 

dnpoi^Tfs  SoAocvn  yw^  wfi^aimu  Arwy* 

Kvnpiho^  ttSov  Spo^  ^tXon^awotf,  ^x^  ymmKUMf 

napdwvtrjv  KXhnxi¥Tt^  AXvotcd^ovoti^  curoirai. 

ciW,  yvvox  ^vyoStpt^,  ri  ai^fupotf  ^fp^fio,  fialvta;    t^. 

■fl  vfHv  ocAAiycooo,  m6Bw  Pofivyotmft  SMttf; 

Wfi^€V$rfs  d^Kovoa,  kqI  oO  rcor  Mas  djKoiryjv 

o^  hwaaai  Kfuvimw  Kff&^W9  ydfuov*  MaXioi  yap 

GOV  n6aiv  dyy/^tfoi  PtoyXaY^€S  q4o  fu^oi, 

tlni  b4  fKH,  PapfSvwmp  mtoterim,  wapMm,  Pihi^^*  76^'> 

nws  luBintts  x^odauaoM  iptvBaXhf¥  aio  i»ofi^f^; 

ris  a€o  Xttcrpa  fiirp^;    ris  rjfnraat  otto  Kop^vrp^; 

(avdal  Ni^ioBcc,  /117  Kpwjfart  yvfi^iov  Avptff, 

ot&a,  yiWi  fiapv^pT€,  rtdv  XaBpaZov  oKofmjv' 

aos  ydfJMs  ov  fu  AAi^c,  kqI  mI  ir/nWcu^  fuyccUWif ,  770 

aos  TTOQis  ov  /K  XiXTi$€'  pofiVTOfuvf)  Scfias*  vm^ 

€iWri9  aarv^dXueros  ivuft/^tv&tff  ^toyvoKft. 

oAAd  Tcov  AiVe  t6(ov*  aimvofUyrj  hi  ^apiTpnjif 

opyia  fivari7r6X€V€  yuvfUfUu4os  o4o  BdUr^ov, 

TVfiTrai'a  x^^^  ff>€povaa  Koi  €vtc€pdMV  6pdo¥  at/Aw ».  ,.b 

npos  &€  Tcrjs  Airo/iOi  a€  reKtaotyd^UHO  ^oficvi^, 

irota  aoi  coTraocv  cSiv  rco9  AiOwcFo;  dtcoirtf^; 

firj  aoi  V€ppiBa  Scoice,  rr^  avTdyy€Xov  €Mjs; 

yL-q  GOi  x'^^^  poTTTpa  r€utv  w6p€  naiyyui  waiBatv; 

7r€idofKU,  COS"  7r6p€  BvpGov,  ojcoirrurnjpa  Xtovrofv    790 

478 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  754-780 

your  loving  bridal !  The  fountain  where  young  girls 
get  a  treacherous  potion,  and  loosen  the  girdle  they 
have  worn  all  their  lives,  in  a  dream  of  marriage  which 
steals  their  maidenhood.  I  have  seen,  I  have  seen 
the  slope  where  a  woman  is  made  a  bride  unex- 
pectedly, in  treacherous  sleep,  beside  a  bridal  rock. 
I  have  seen  the  love-mountain  of  Cypris,  where 
lovers  steal  the  maidenhood  of  women  and  run 
away. 

760  '*  Xell  me,  you  young  prude,  why  do  you  walk  so 
slowly  to-day  ?  Once  as  quick  as  the  wind,  why  do 
you  plod  so  heavily  ?  You  were  wooed  unwilling,  and 
you  do  not  know  your  bedfellow  !  You  cannot  hide 
your  furtive  bridal,  for  your  breasts  are  swelUng  with 
new  milk  and  they  announce  a  husband.  Tell  me 
heavy  sleeper,  pigsticker,  virgin,  bride,  how  do  you 
come  by  those  pale  cheeks,  once  ruddy  ?  Who  dis- 
graced your  bed  ?      Who  stole  your  maidenhood  ? 

0  fair-haired  Naiads,  do  not  hide  Aura's  bridegroom  ! 

1  know  your  furtive  husband,  you  woman  with  a 
heavy  burden.  I  saw  your  wedding,  clearly  enough, 
though  you  long  to  conceal  it.  I  saw  your  husband 
clearly  enough  ;  you  were  in  the  bed,  your  body 
heavy  with  sleep,  you  did  not  move  when  Dionysos 
wedded  you. 

'■^3  ♦«  Come  then,  leave  your  bow,  renounce  your 
quiver  ;  serve  in  the  secret  rites  of  your  womanmad 
Bacchos  ;  carry  your  tambour  and  your  tootling  pipes 
of  horn.  I  beseech  you,  in  the  name  of  that  bed  on 
the  ground  where  the  marriage  was  consummated, 
what  bridegifts  did  Dionysos  your  husband  bring  ? 
Did  he  give  you  a  fawnskin,  enough  to  be  news  of 
your  marriage-bed  ?  Did  he  give  you  brazen  rattles 
for  your  children  to  play  with  ?     I  think  he  gave  you 

479 


NONH08 

KOi  rdxa  KVfifiaXa,  hwic€,  rd  mp  hot^ovoi  riBrjvtu 
<f>dpfiai<a  vTfnidxoiai  ^iXoBpnfjiHmf  Hwfdott^,'* 

Brjpas  6ior€vovaa  to  Mr€pO¥,  dxi^vfthni  Si 

rjtpuH^  dvifioiaiv  i^  fu64flic€  fupifums.  tss 

Kovprj  5*  ovptai^oirot  dftdprvpos  ^i^6Bi  n^rpffft 
6(v  P^Xoi  fuBtnovaa  SwpraBdo^  rwttroto 
<f>piKaX(ov  ppvxit^"'  ^XU**^^^  *^X*  XtcJyfii* 
irirpax  5*  ovria^i^aay*  ipiafiapdytMO  Bi  KO^Spn^ 
^Soyyov  dp.€ifio^Uvfi  lUHCtfoaro  hwrBpoot  *Hx«t»>       790 
irat  7raAa/ia9,  art  nwfta,  irtpco^yfooo  Xoxtijj 
irAcic  Boijv  (o$mi  wtfrmpofUvov  rotcrroio, 
Kol  t69cov  dpmrikttmv  ipn/jrvtv  IxBoiUinff  yi^p 
"Afrrc/uv  oi)  fi€v4aiV€¥  iw*  wiivtam  tfoXiomu* 
'Hpaia^  B4  Bvyarpas  dyaiytro,  fiij  ttotc  BdxxQV     796. 
fjLTirpvi-qs  arc  ntuScf  intfipiuuKn  Xoxtijj.  < 

Kovpnrf  5*  (U7xciA<kuaa  irari^a  fiffftv  t^t^i^t  \ 

waaofityrj  ntcWpounv  avci^cu&por  amyioyg' 

otrrco9  o/x^or^pa;  iyKvpLOvai  ^^P^  fovfacu*  800 

'ApTCfuv  atbiyovacLV  iXiyfart,  ^laid&ts  ^Qpai, 
fiapTvpir)  roK€roiO,  kox  Ciirarc  T/HToy€V€4jy 
*  napdcviKrj  yXavKumi,  yrrfrdtct  piijfrtp  dfL-qratp.* 
ovTU)  ^vva  nadovaav  cScu  ^iXondpBtvoy  *^X*^ 
Ilavl  7Tap€uinf)$€iaav  ^  dpx^Kdjctp  Aiovump.  806 

"ApTC/LU,  icat  aif  r€Kovaa  napal^aat^  ccrvccu  Avpnif^, 
BrjXv  ydXa  ard^ovoa  Acj^cuioi'  dpatvi  fial^tfi," 
Kln€v  oSupofUvri  fiapwtjhwa  tcarrpa  XoxflffS' 

•  The  £ileithyiai,  goddcMC*  of  child  birth. 
480. 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  781-808 

a  thyrsus  to  shoot  hons  ;  perhaps  he  gave  cymbals, 
which  nurses  shake  to  console  the  howling  pains  of  the 
Httle  children." 

"^^  So  spoke  the  goddess  in  mockery,  and  went 
away  to  shoot  her  wild  beasts  again,  in  anger  leaving 
her  cares  to  the  winds  of  heaven. 

^®®  But  the  girl  went  among  the  high  rocks  of  the 
mountains.  There  unseen,  when  she  felt  the  cruel 
throes  of  childbirth  pangs,  her  voice  roared  terrible 
as  a  lioness  in  labour,  and  the  rocks  resounded,  for 
dolorous  Echo  gave  back  an  answering  roar  to  the 
loud-shrieking  girl.  She  held  her  hands  over  her  lap 
like  a  lid  compressing  the  birth,  to  close  the  speedy 
delivery  of  her  ripening  child,  and  delayed  the  babe 
now  perfect.  For  she  hated  Artemis  and  would  not 
call  upon  her  in  her  pains  ;  she  would  not  have  the 
daughters  of  Hera,"  lest  they  as  being  children  of 
Bacchos's  stepmother  should  oppress  her  delivery 
with  more  pain.  At  last  in  her  affliction  the  girl 
cried  out  these  despairing  words,  stabbed  with  the 
pangs  of  one  who  was  new  to  the  hard  necessity  of 
childbirth  : 

'^^  "  So  may  I  see  Archeress  and  wild  Athena,  so 
may  I  see  them  both  great  with  child !  Reproach 
Artemis  in  labour,  O  midwife  Seasons,  be  witness  of 
her  delivery,  and  say  to  Tritogeneia — '  O  virgin 
Brighteyes,  O  new  mother  who  mother  had  none  !  ' 
So  may  I  see  Echo  who  loves  maidenhood  so  much, 
suffering  as  I  do,  after  she  has  lain  with  Pan,  or 
Dionysos  the  cause  of  my  troubles  !  Artemis,  if  you 
could  bring  forth,  it  would  be  some  consolation  to 
Aura,  that  you  should  trickle  woman's  milk  from 
your  man's  breast." 

^^  So  she  cried,  lamenting  the  heavy  pangs  of  her 

VOL.  Ill  2 1  481 


N0NN08 

Kai  r6Hov  lox^fupa  Kartax^Bt,  voiBoixW^*  M 

vvft^T)  fioxBov  onaaa€y  iputcofUvov  rotctrolo.  ^10 

Kai  rcAcT^  Nura4a  tcvfitpungr^ipa  Avalov 
^oyBov  oniirtvovoa  koX  auj^^a  Xifoa^hos  ACfnf^ 
roiijv  KpvnraBiTjv  oucripfUMfO.  a^aro  ^wvrp^' 

'*  Avprj  (ui^  mBovaa,  K^yvpto  Koi  ov  Koptiipf 
yaarpa  hk  ^oprrov  4Yovan  ^tnjwaBdos  roKmno  Hir> 

rirXoBi  /loi  p.€ra  X£crpo¥  ly<«v  kqjL  tchnpa  Xoxti^, 
rdrXadi  tccu  fip€^€OOw  atpta  /ia{3r  6p4(ai, 
Ktd  a^  7r6B€v  vUf  oJpov,  i^iff  avXt^pa  plrpri^; 
KoX  av  'n6$€v  nUi  ohn¥,  ^Iwi  viX^f  iytcvos,  Avprj; 
Kol  <n)  TrdBtf,  ^vy6i€§uf€,  rd  mtp  nd$o¥' 

aXXA  Koi  oMj    no 
p.€fu^o  wfitf^KOfiojv  dmirv^Ator  virvor  *Epw>nt¥, 

€U  v6aif  Avprff 
nap$€vucnv  Nacoiov  iOi^tcaro  pyfripa  tnuSam- 
ovKiri  To(ov  €YLJ  Br^poKTOvov,  ostein  ¥€Vpf^, 
ws  trdpo^f  ai  ipvw  kqX  iyw  fiiXoi'  €luX  M  SctA^    9Vt 
laroTTovos  ^Acca,  koI  ovtcin  Bovpif  *Afia{<tf»/' 

'Ew€ir€v  oiKr€ipovaa  rcAcooiyoi^u  wovov  Avptf^, 
old  T€  n€ipT)d€iaa  t6kov  fwytpolo  tcai  ovn^. 
Arp-anj  5*  diovaa  fiapu^ddyyov  Krviro¥  Avptfi 
rjXv6€v  avxmoaa  ro  S€VT€pov  cyyw^i  vvp4^'  ^**' 

Tf lpoyL€\rqv  O     €p€$li€   Kol    Ui;(C    Kdirropi  pMp' 

l\ap6€V€,  T19  a€  rAcaac 

XfxoiCBa  firjT€pa  mxahoMf; 
17  ydfiov  dyvwaaovca  irodtv  yXdyo^  cAAa;i^  fui^ot;; 
ovK  rSov,  ov  Twddfirjv,  ori  impBivoq  via  Ao;|^cuct. 
^  pa  <l>vaiv  fjL€rdfjL€ulf€  narrip  ipMq;     ^  pa  ywoof* 
v6a<l>i  ydfiov  tuctovgi;    aif  ydp,  ^ikomdp0€V€  Kovprj, 

48S 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  809-836 

delivery.  Then  Artemis  delayed  the  birth,  and  gave 
the  labouring  bride  the  pain  of  retarded  delivery. 

®ii  But  Nicaia,  the  leader  of  the  rites  of  Lyaios,  see- 
ing the  pain  and  disgrace  of  distracted  Aura,  spoke  to 
her  thus  in  secret  pity  : 

®^*  "  Aura,  I  have  suffered  as  you  have,  and  you  too 
lament  you  your  maidenhood.  But  since  you  carry 
in  your  womb  the  burden  of  painful  childbirth, 
endure  after  the  bed  to  have  the  pangs  of  delivery, 
endure  to  give  your  untaught  breast  to  babes. 
Why  did  you  also  drink  wine,  which  robbed  me  of 
my  girdle  ?  Why  did  you  also  drink  wine,  Aura, 
until  you  were  with  child  ?  You  also  suffered  what 
I  suffered,  you  enemy  of  marriage ;  then  you  also 
have  to  blame  a  deceitful  sleep  sent  by  the  Loves, 
who  are  friends  of  marriage.  One  fraud  fitted  mar- 
riage on  us  both,  one  husband  was  Aura's  and  made 
virgin  Nicaia  the  mother  of  children.  No  more 
have  I  a  beastslaying  bow,  no  longer  as  once,  I 
draw  my  bowstring  and  my  arrows  ;  I  am  a  poor 
woman  working  at  the  loom,  and  no  longer  a  wild 
Amazon." 

^27  She  spoke,  pitying  Aura's  labour  to  accomplish 
the  birth,  as  one  who  herself  had  felt  the  pangs  of 
labour.  But  Leto's  daughter,  hearing  the  resounding 
cries  of  Aura,  came  near  the  bride  again  in  triumph, 
taunted  her  in  her  suffering  and  spoke  in  stinging 
words  : 

832  *'  Virgin,  who  made  you  a  mother  in  childbed  ? 
You  that  knew  nothing  of  marriage,  how  came  that 
milk  in  your  breast  ?  I  never  heard  or  saw  that  a 
virgin  bears  a  child.  Has  my  father  changed  nature  ? 
Do  women  bear  children  without  marriage  ?  For 
you,  a  maiden,  the  friend  of  maidenhood,  bring  forth 

483 


NONN08 

€hSw€iS  v4a  rdtcva,  teal  €t  arvyi^n  ^A^poilniw. 
-^  pa  Kvp€pyiJT€ipay  dvayKOuw  TOtcrroio 
"fiiprtiuv  ov  KoXiown  Xtyw^its,  Srn  av  fiovtrq 
€iV  roKov  ayporiftrfi  od  ocUcoi  ioxtalpm;  ^^ 

ov5c  T€6v  Aioyvaov  dfUU4vrw¥  dno  »(6Xmut¥ 
cSpouccv  EtAct^iHa,  Ttijii  iXdrtipa  ytydBXiff 
oAAa  fiiv  rifUT^aTO¥  ifMtwoayro  K€fia»¥oL 
p,ri  Korm,  or  I  noAis  M  QKtrm^Xoun  Xognktf 
j  QKontXutv  fiaaiKua  r6KOu  ntip^^traro    rtiff'  ^' 

TiV  v4fuaU  ^orc  rwro;    tear*  ovp€a  rdtcra  Xoxiv^tft 
tvs  ha^juxp  ovptal^Tos  6p€aat¥6fiov  Aiop^oov." 
"Evvtirt-  Koi  tayriovaa  Xtinmis  axmno  nly*^ 

tyyv^  rqv  roicrroSo  Koi  iJtfcAc  mpS^rat  cIImu.  *^ 

icai  pp^4^  <*V  ^dof  ^A^€  $oampo¥*  *ApTifA4^  yap 
^€yyofUvrf^  ert  y^GBov  dKoyrurnjpa  XoYtiTj^ 
oinXoo^  avroK^XrvoTOi  tfAouoBri  r6icos  Avprfs 
Xuofi€vri^  coBivos'*  SB€v  hiivytuv  dn6  tnJSatv 
^liivfiov  wkucdprrpfov  opog  kixA^iccto  'Pcn/y.  '^'•^ 

Kal  d€6s  dupj^aaaa  vtrjv  €vnaiBa  y€y4BXrf¥ 
rolov  tiTo^  nciXivopao^  dfUHfiam  9070  ^M^* 

"  Mcua,  yuyri  fioyt-n,  hwvfirfTit(€  SvovofM  mV*^* 
vldai  fia^ov  6p€(ov  ai^^ca,  itapB4v€  ivifrtip' 
TraTnrdfci  ato  Kovpo^  dvairi^tav  at  rotcifa'  *^' 

€t7r€  8c  aols  r€K€€<Tat  rtov  XadpaXov  oKolrqv, 
''ApT€fiis  ov  ydfiov  olSc,  Kol  ov  rp€^v  vUa  ^Cv^' 
oov  Ac^oj  ovpca  raOra,  «rcu  tjSaSos  avri  ;(4Tai»t>«' 
OTrdpyava  aCtv  pp€^cjv 

TToAvScuSoAa  Sdpfjuira  V€fip&¥," 

EfTTc,  #cai  ihiamihiXo^  iSvaaro  $<(airiar  uXiyv.       ^ 

«  Alluding  to  the  birth  ot  Zcnt  on  the  AiCMiian  (or  Cretan) 
hUls. 

484 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  837-865 

young  children,  even  if  you  hate  Aphrodite.  Then 
do  women  in  childbed  under  the  hard  necessity  of 
childbirth  no  longer  call  on  Artemis  to  guide  them, 
when  you  alone  do  not  want  Archeress  the  lady  of 
the  hunt  ?  Nor  did  Eileithyia,  who  conducts  your 
delivery,  see  your  Dionysos  born  from  his  mother's 
womb ;  but  thunderbolts  were  his  midwives,  and 
he  only  half-made  !  Do  not  be  angry  that  you  bear 
children  among  the  crags,  where  Rheia  queen  of  the 
crags  has  borne  children."  What  harm  is  it  that  you 
bear  children  in  the  mountains,  you  the  mountaineer 
wife  of  mountainranging  Dionysos  !  " 

®^  She  spoke,  and  the  nymph  in  childbirth  was 
indignant  and  angry,  but  she  was  ashamed  before 
Artemis  even  in  her  pains.  Ah  poor  creature  !  she 
wished  to  remain  a  maiden,  and  she  was  near  to 
childbirth.  A  babe  came  quickly  into  the  light  ;  for 
even  as  Artemis  yet  spoke  the  word  that  shot  out 
the  delivery,  the  womb  of  Aura  was  loosened,  and 
twin  children  came  forth  of  themselves  ;  therefore 
from  these  twins  (SlSv/jlol)  the  highpeaked  mountain 
of  Rheia  was  called  Dindymon.  Seeing  how  fair 
the  children  were,  the  goddess  again  spoke  in  a 
changed  voice  : 

^^  "  Wetnurse,  lonely  ranger,  twinmother,  bride 
of  a  forced  bridal,  give  your  untaught  breast  to  your 
sons,  virgin  mother.  Your  boy  calls  daddy,  asking 
for  his  father ;  tell  your  children  the  name  of  your 
secret  lover.  Artemis  knows  nothing  of  marriage, 
she  has  not  nursed  a  son  at  her  breast.  These 
mountains  were  your  bed,  and  the  spotted  skins  of 
fawns  are  swaddling-clothes  for  your  babies,  instead 
of  the  usual  robe." 

^^  She   spoke,   and   swiftshoe   plunged   into   the 

485 


NONNOS 
fi€ftfPofUi'rjv  frc  XtKToa  X€XQiiia  htUvmi^  Kvpfffff 

fUlhl6u>V  AiOKIKTO^'   €prjfWt>ifUHO  M   Ko^Spn/ff 

apTiydfLois  aYop€V€v  inavxijoas  ^luvaioig* 
"  ApTi  fioyti,  liUata,wapal^aow€6fi€S  *EpafTW¥'  979 

7rap0€vitciji  8*  Mpffji  yd(LO¥  ^^moocv* 

1)  vfHV  oAuaira^otMra  irou  owq^ul  uoOvo¥  *Jipanwv 
0049  OaXdfuHi  rmror  Ibor  <{pc9rut9  ^fBpOJMr  ACpfti. 
ov  fiowT)  yAuMW  MTMir  M(ao  wofiw^  *Eptirtatt,    §75 
ou  fiowff  nUi  oiyo¥  hnscXomoif  S^fmaya  furp/tf^' 
oAAa  vtrff  dyvoHrrot  dpoiyofidvfft  <ifr^  ^"VYV 
wyn^KOuoq  naXty  o2m>9  op^pXut,  tt^  wUr  Avptj. 
dXXa  fi4Aos  5c5avMiy  aMiyarcUov  TOircnMb* 
7rpo9  TcAcT^  XiTO fiol  at,  vopofrAcir/of  0/0  Kovfrtf^,  g^ 
oTTcuaov  a€^a(civ  //i^  vUa,  /iij  /uy  iXiaafi 
roXfirjpdis  naXdujfaw  ifk'^  5iKF/ii;;(avof  Aupi)' 
ofSa  yap,  dt^  htovfiwv  fipt^atv  €va  irotSa  oapuiaati 
aax€Ta  Xvauutovoa'  av  $€  xP^^h''!^'^^  *^^^'^*P' 
€aao  ^vXai  wlSivo^  ap€iovo^,  ^P^  ^^^  ^^"t  881 

017  T€A€'n7  ^c/KiTTOiva  icai  vlii  tcoX  yo«cr^.** 

*Qy  ciVcov  naMyopaos  tx^irro  BdKXQS  dy^viop, 
KvSiowf  ^pvyloiow  in*  dfA/^oripoif  i§i£imiiMS 
np€aPirr€prf^  oAdvoio  Koi  onXoTip/ffi  mpl  v^fi^V^' 
Koi  Papv  n€vdo^  €Xpvoa  rtXfaairdKtp  napd  virp^,  890 

Wfi<f>€V$rjv  dv€fju}un  Koi  ov  pparirjv  iBov  €vyrjv, 

AvpT)^  8*  €is  v/xci'cuov  inwwfjUH  rjXvdov  aSpcu* 

Kol  Xoxuis  €X€rcjaav  Cfui;  (o5mi9  difTCH,  88S 

€pp€T€  fioi,  v€a  T€Kva  SoXoppo^o^  y€V€Trjpos, 

486 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  866-896 

shady  wood.  Then  Dionysos  called  Nicaia,  his  own 
Cybeleid  nymph,  and  smiling  pointed  to  Aura  still 
upbraiding  her  childbed ;  proud  of  his  late  union 
with  the  lonely  girl,  he  said  : 

®''°  "  Now  at  last,  Nicaia,  you  have  found  consola- 
tion for  your  love.  Now  again  Dionysos  has  stolen 
a  marriage  bed,  and  ravished  another  maiden  :  wood- 
land Aura  in  the  mountains,  who  shrank  once  from 
the  very  name  of  love,  has  seen  a  marriage  the  image 
of  yours.  Not  you  alone  had  sweet  sleep  as  a  guide 
to  love,  not  you  alone  drank  deceitful  wine  which 
stole  your  maiden  girdle  ;  but  once  more  a  fountain 
of  nuptial  wine  has  burst  from  a  new  opening  rock  un- 
recognized, and  Aura  drank.  You  who  have  learnt 
the  throes  of  childbirth  in  hard  necessity,  by  Telete 
your  danceweaving  daughter  I  beseech  you,  hasten 
to  Uft  up  my  son,  that  my  desperate  Aura  may  not 
destroy  him  with  daring  hands — for  I  know  she  will 
kill  one  of  the  two  baby  boys  in  her  intolerable 
frenzy,  but  do  you  help  lacchos  :  guard  the  better 
boy,  that  your  Telete  may  be  the  servant  of  son  and 
father  both." 

®®^  With  this  appeal  Bacchos  departed,  triumphant 
and  proud  of  his  two  Phrygian  marriages,  with  the 
elder  wife  and  the  younger  bride.  And  in  deep  dis- 
tress beside  the  rock  where  they  had  been  born,  the 
mother  in  childbed  held  up  the  two  boys  and  cried 
aloud — 

**  892  "  From  the  sky  came  this  marriage — I  will 
throw  my  offspring  into  the  sky  !  I  was  wooed  by  the 
breezes,  and  I  saw  no  mortal  bed.  Winds  my  name- 
sakes came  down  to  the  marriage  of  the  Windmaid, 
then  let  the  breezes  take  the  offspring  of  my  womb. 
Away  with  you,  children  accursed  of  a  treacherous 

487 


NONN06 

vfjJas  o^K  iX6x€vaa'  ri  fUM  jrojcd  Bt)Xur€pduf¥; 

tXB€r€  dapvTffVTti,  or    o6tch%  §idftnrtu  ASptii' 

Koi  atcvXaxvav  cAoronrcf  apilovdi  ioT€  Xaywoi'        900 

Sums,  ^fUH  rdpntoBt'  wop*  iJimW^h  M  x^ifici^i 

'fr6pSaXiv  dnroir/Toif  ^mwunipotrra  Mn{aw 

d(ar€  ajSwoiio^  iipKf99  6rafBim'  wmAoT6ttmt  y^ 

Avptf^  XaXfcoxmf¥€t  ^BfikSUffoa^  Starol, 

ftri  ppiapof  TtKitaow  ifi/i¥  worn  fia{^  ^vcCoow* 
firf  naXd^jf  OXu^oifU  96$0¥  y^iXa,  fti|5*  M  XA^niOn 
Orfpo^voi  ytyfuAa  yvi'^  ^Mrttcvof  ^MOfiow,'  908 

.  .   .  ^i€€v  vw6  Ofn^Xifyyg  Xtxo^  hntnva  Xtaumft'  910 
dXXa  ^Mttvvaoio  phjw  tvmntha  ynviSXtfif, 
7r6p8aXi^  Wfiop6pot4n  idpaf  AixM^aioo  Y€¥tloif, 
€fjL^pova  Bvfiov  ix^vaa  ao^^  fjuuwoaro  fut^^- 
SofifiaXioi  h€  ^pOKOtrrts  immXtoaturro  Xox^irp^ 
lopoXoii  arofuxTtaaw,  hnl  v^a  r{t€9a  ^vAaoooir     916 
/iccAi;(u>i;9  «c<u  Brifta^  tBi^Karo  Wfii^lof  ACpftft. 
Koi  noBl  ^ovroXiip  Ai|Aarn^  itSopt  tcovpij 
aypiO¥  ^fioi  ixQUoa.  SaavaripmMO  Xnhnftt 
Tjtpuu^  5*  aJKiXfrt^  oan^irdm^cv  -AiXXatis 
$7jp€iwv  €va  ircuSa  hutpmifitoa  ^^fpr^cdr*  gj^ 

Kal  7rai9  dpTiX6x€vrt>f  M  OTpOi^iXtyyi  KtK^tff 
rJ€p6S€v  TTpoKop-qvos  ifnoXiaOfjcnv  dpovpfj-  • 

icai  fuv  d^ap7rd(aaa  ^iXtp  Tvpp€vaaTO  Xatfuft, 
hcuwp,€vr)  ^Aa  Sciirva.     teal  daropyow  rciroiMn^ 
rappaXcrj  t€K<k  aXXo  Ac^cotScx  rjpnQOtw  Avprfs        tt5 
napBti'os  loxfoipa,  5taoTct;(ovaa  5^  Xixfifpf 
naiBoKopw  Kov4>ii€v  ai^ti  KoCpov  dyoar^. 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  897-927 

father,  you  are  none  of  mine — what  have  I  to  do  with 
the  sorrows  of  women  ?  Show  yourselves  now,  Hons, 
come  freely  to  forage  in  the  woods  ;  have  no  fear, 
for  Aura  is  your  enemy  no  more.  Hares  with  your 
rolhng  eyes,  you  are  better  than  hounds.  Jackals, 
let  me  be  your  favourite ;  I  will  watch  the  panther 
jumping  fearless  beside  my  bed.  Bring  your  friend 
the  bear  without  fear  ;  for  now  that  Aura  has 
children  her  arrows  in  bronze  armour  have  become 
womanish.  I  am  ashamed  to  have  the  name  of  bride 
who  once  was  virgin  ;  lest  I  sometime  offer  my  strong 
breast  to  babes,  lest  I  press  out  the  bastard  milk 
with  my  hand,  or  be  called  tender  mother  in  the 
woods  where  I  slew  wild  beasts  !  " 

^10  l^She  took  the  babes  and]  laid  them  in  the 
den  of  a  lioness  for  her  dinner.  But  a  panther 
with  understanding  mind  licked  their  bodies  with 
her  ravening  lips,  and  nursed  the  beautiful  boys 
of  Dionysos  with  intelhgent  breast  ;  wondering 
serpents  with  poisonspitting  mouth  surrounded 
the  birthplace,  for  Aura's  bridegroom  had  made 
even  the  ravening  beasts  gentle  to  guard  his  new- 
born children. 

^17  Then  Lelantos's  daughter  sprang  up  with  wan- 
dering foot  in  the  wild  temper  of  a  shaggycrested 
lioness,  tore  one  child  from  the  wild  beast's  jaws  and 
hurled  it  like  a  flash  into  the  stormy  air :  the  new-born 
child  fell  from  the  air  headlong  into  the  whirling  dust 
upon  the  ground,  and  she  caught  him  up  and  gave 
him  a  tomb  in  her  own  maw — a  family  dinner  indeed ! 
The  maiden  Archeress  was  terrified  at  this  heartless 
mother,  and  seized  the  other  child  of  Aura,  then 
she  hastened  away  through  the  wood  ;  holding  the 
boy,  an  unfamiliar  burden  in  her  nursing  arm. 

489 


NONN08 

Koi  Bpofiiov  fura  Xdterpa, 

fjLWfiov  aAvaica{ovaa  yofii^Xutt^  iyp6nis  Avm, 
afx^^ri^  fiMwown  oiBof  ^iKomap$€m¥  oAoCp,      no 
iayyapiov  cnrcS^  if^Pfr*  imwdarA^  S*  fya.  r6(<ff 
€19  irpoYoa;  aK6fJuaTO¥  4if¥  fypufff  ^aptrpifjv, 
Kal  pv$U(t  vpoKapfjvof  hnatclfrnfot  p^^Botft 

K€u  podiois  irorafUHO  iraAifirrrro*  n^  H  KpoviuMt    936 

fui{oc  Hpowo^  irpf,  wpoxo^  hifuais,  itSta  j^alrai, 
#rcu  K^pas  €trAcro  r6(otf  iwcpaipov  voro^ioib 
ravpo^vdt,  tcai  oxou^of  d^ntfioudmi  vAf  Miij^, 
Kcu  SdiMxcc  ytyooiTvv  ^wi^jpo^ifoay  ikofv^  MO 

iroi  Pv66¥  iAvtfcrra  SMOOvyUrf  votoimIo 

iXvca  /looTCUoMm  ^tXoaKon^Xoto  Avaiov 

^i€v,  a/>riAoycvrov  attpo^Uvfj  Pp^4of  Avpmt,  MA 

cuTraacv  apacva  frcuSa  ftooiyin^r^  AiovifcKy. 

Nucoi^;  5*  cw  i/Ta  irar^p  «t^,  §iai4£ii  vvfi^V' 
1^  S^  fuv  i^pra{c,  icoi  aKpordrqs  dno  Bfikfjf 
nau^KOfujjv  BXifiovaa  ^pdaBtO¥  ucfuiBa  fAal^am       ftSO 
Kovpov  dyrj€(rfa€.    Xafiuj¥  hi  fur  &ff6$i  Sl^pov 
vrirnov  €ia€Ti  Bajryov  ^wwruyior  via  tcmc^o; 
'Ar^iSi  fxtxrriiroA<|»  irttpcm<£rtftfo  Bcurxcx  *A^i{i7y, 
Euia  naimd^ovra'  $€a  W  fuv  h^oBi  ytfov 
IloAAas*  dwfi<f>€VTa}  0€O&4yfJLOVi  h^faro  koXitw'         95i 
natSl  h€  fxa^ov  6p€f€,  rov  ttrrraat  fiowos  'Epc^^cvf , 
a^Tox^Tt^  ardCovra  voSov  yAayo9  ofi^asci  iial^> 

490 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  928-957 

®28  After  the  bed  of  Bromios,  after  the  delirium 
of  childbirth,  huntress  Aura  would  escape  the  re- 
proach of  her  wedding,  for  she  still  held  in  reverence 
the  modesty  of  her  maiden  state.  So  she  went  to 
the  banks  of  Sangarios,  threw  into  the  water  her 
backbending  bow  and  her  neglected  quiver,  and  leapt 
headlong  into  the  deep  stream,  refusing  in  shame  to 
let  her  eyes  look  on  the  light  of  day.  The  waves  of 
the  river  covered  her  up,  and  Cronion  turned  her 
into  a  fountain  :  her  breasts  became  the  spouts  of 
falling  water,  the  stream  was  her  body,  the  flowers 
her  hair,  her  bow  the  horn  of  the  horned  River  in 
bull-shape,  the  bowstring  changed  into  a  rush  and 
the  whistling  arrows  into  vocal  reeds,  the  quiver 
passed  through  to  the  muddy  bed  of  the  river  and, 
changed  to  a  hollow  channel,  poured  its  sounding 
waters. 

^^^  Then  the  Archeress  stilled  her  anger.  She 
went  about  the  forest  seeking  for  traces  of  Lyaios 
in  his  beloved  mountains,  while  she  held  Aura's  new- 
born babe,  carrying  in  her  arms  another's  burden, 
until  shamefast  she  delivered  his  boy  to  Dionysos 
her  brother. 

^^^  The  father  gave  charge  of  his  son  to  Nicaia  the 
nymph  as  a  nurse.  She  took  him,  and  fed  the  boy, 
pressing  out  the  lifegiving  juice  of  her  childnursing 
breasts  from  her  teat,  until  he  grew  up.  While  the 
boy  was  yet  young,  Bacchos  took  into  his  car  this 
Bacchos  his  father's  namesake,  and  presented  him  to 
Attic  Athena  amid  her  mysteries,  babbling  "  Euoi." 
Goddess  Pallas  in  her  temple  received  him  into  her 
maiden  bosom,  which  had  welcome  for  a  god  ;  she 
gave  the  boy  that  pap  which  only  Erechtheus  had 
sucked,  and  let  the  alien  milk  trickle  of  itself  from 

491 


NONN08 

teal  fuv  *EXtxfau4jfai  $*a  vofiOK^rBrro  B^iryaif* 
dfL^  Si  Kovpov  "Xojcxp^  4t€VttXtiawrTo  X9P^^ 

irou  Stov  IXaaKQtrro  ^utSt  vua  flcpov^oM^* 

icoi  Tptrdrt^  t4ov  vfu^o¥  ivtoiiopd/ffoait  *f^«X^.     ms 
irai  TfArnuf  rptaafiaiv  ifiat(xtu$ffoot^  'A^^roi* 
irai  x^/wi^  wfnr4XiOTO¥  dmKfiodoarro  iroATrvu 
TLaypda  $cvSau>oyTtt  d§ia  BpOftJtp  iroi  'IdUrj^. 

oAAa  iroi  <UAoyUri|(  wpar^pffif  ifian/joaro  wvii^fiis'     fjQ 
icoi  2IWi^a*t>y  9tpucw€Xo¥  avotX'Ofiinff  *A^iA^ 
fuifiTw  Ifji  ^MrffT99  dt^tan/jptftP  *OAilyiwy, 

Kcu  ^coff  o^ircAocif  varpdMO¥  oWipa  /Sau^cur 
irarpi  ouv  cucuSua  /ui^  hinvtn  rpaw^ifft,  tTS 

KCU  PpoTtriv  firrd  SaXra,  firrd  wpor^prtjy  x^iatp  Oi»ov 
oi^povtov  YTM  v^KTop  dpttordpoiOi  KvnMoii, 
awBpovo^  'AnoXXujtrt,  awianot  vUi  Ma/i^r . 


49i 


DIONYSIACA,  XLVIII.  958-978 

her  unripe  breast.  The  goddess  gave  him  in  trust  to 
the  Bacchants  of  Eleusis  ;  the  wives  of  Marathon 
wearing  ivy  tript  around  the  boy  lacchos,  and  Ufted 
the  Attic  torch  in  the  nightly  dances  of  the  deity 
lately  born.  They  honoured  him  as  a  god  next 
after  the  son  of  Persephoneia,  and  after  Semele's 
son  ;  they  established  sacrifices  for  Dionysos  late 
born  and  Dionysos  first  born,  and  third  they  chanted 
a  new  hymn  for  lacchos.**  In  these  three  celebra- 
tions Athens  held  high  revel  ;  in  the  dance  lately 
made,  the  Athenians  beat  the  step  in  honour  of 
Zagreus  and  Bromios  and  lacchos  all  together. 

^^®  But  Bacchos  had  not  forgotten  his  Cydonian 
darling,  no,  he  remembered  still  the  bride  once  his, 
then  lost,  and  he  placed  in  Olympos  the  rounded 
crown  of  Ariadne  passed  away,  a  witness  of  his  love, 
an  everlasting  proclaimer  of  garlanded  wedding. 

®'*  Then  the  vinegod  ascended  into  his  father's 
heaven,  and  touched  one  table  with  the  father  who 
had  brought  him  to  birth  ;  after  the  banquets  of 
mortals,  after  the  wine  once  poured  out,  he  quaffed 
heavenly  nectar  from  nobler  goblets,  on  a  throne 
beside  Apollo,  at  the  hearth  beside  Maia's  son. 

*  An  Eleusinian  deity,  associated  with  Demeter  and  Core. 
It  is  to  Nonnos's  credit  that  he  seems  uncertain  of  the  popular 
identification  of  this  god  with  Bacchos-Dionysos. 


INDEX 


The  numbers  are  by  Book  and  Verse :  n.  means  note 


Abantes  IS^^*,  SG^'s 
Abarbaree  15^'*,  40^*^  n. 
Abaris  IP^^  n. 
Acesines,  the  Chenab  23^'^  n. 
Achaians  1^^^  etc. 
Acharneus  IS^^*,  472^ 
Achates  IS^os,  37232  ff. 
Acheloos  17237  n. 
Acheron  4152,  ii«3 
Achilles  1311°  etc. 
Achlys,  a  witch  14i'2  jj^ 
Acmon  13i«,  37«"  ff. 
Acornfed  Arcadians  132^7 
Acrete  1422* 
Acrisione  302'° 
Acrisios  8293,  47572 
Actaion  52",  13^*,  4626* 
Actor  looking  and  speaking 

through  mask  22^"  n. 
Admetos  10323- 
Adonis,   his  death  32220  „., 

41211  n. 
Adrasteia  15392  n.^  43463  ^^ 
Aegis  20^'  n. 
Agreus,  see  Aristaios 
Aiacos    13201   n.,    37"5   etc., 

his    genealogy    37  ^^^     n., 

relieves  drought  SQi*"  n. 
Aias  23"  n.,  28«2 
Aibialos  32"S  353'* 


Aides,  see  Hades 

Aidoneus  301'^ 

Aige  13i«* 

Aigicoros  14'^ 

Aigina  7122,   182   n_^  7213  „., 

24" 
Aigle  14221 
Aigoceres  li'^  etc. 
Aigyptos,  sons  of  3312  n. 
Aiolos  23""  n.,  SOm,  47308 
Aion,  Time  63^2,  723^  3^423^ 

418* 
Aisacos  14190 
Aither  21255  „. 
Aithre,  city  2685 
Aitne  133" 
Aix,  constellation  l*5i,  233" 

Alcimache,  Alcimacheia 

30202^  210 

Alcmene  7i2«,  252",  sim 
Alcon  1422,  29213,  30*9,  37504, 

See  Cabeiro 
Alcyoneus  259o,  362*2  ^^^  4322 
Alexandrian  literature,  vol.  i. 

p.  xi 
Alphabet  41383  n. 
Alpheios  and  Arethusa  63*« 

n.,  13324  n.,  37i'3  n. 
Alphos  45"*  n. 
Althaia  48554  n. 

495 


INDEX 


Alybc  II"  n.  etc 
AmalthrU  !•-  lu,  fl^,  4<«' 
Amasoo     I3»*    rtc^    »hirkl 

Amber  SaP*  n, 
AmbfftKU.  nrinph  il»  elc 
Amctbyrt  liT^  tu 
AmnoB  19^*  n..  40*" 
Ampdot  I0«»».  "•  f  . 
Amphlamos  19^ 
ArophkluMt  S7«« 
AmphkNi.  «-.  J5>»  »^  M~. 

fiMAnliope 
ArophHhrmU  li>« 
Ainphitr>t'«»3l»« 
Aroyckii*.  Il«*e«c. 
A»yw»e»~iu.4l".l«^, 


Amjnnoor  unknowa  41 
AnanoaU  10^ 


la^B. 


,^««,     *«,«.  18^  '■' 
And'tJ^KilTl*"   §•".  «»•. 
Sl»,  47"" 


pb» 


AntlieneM^ 
Anthettt»i^ 
Aoliinacfaoftv 

n. 
AnUopc  7»»  16^  n^  Sl«»  B^ 

Anuria,  nymph  41 

AoDia,  BtioUa  ♦«  4",  l««, 
IS".  »«*,  i5"  n. 

Apate  8»»  n. 

ApaturkK  i"**  n. 

Aphroditr,  pcu^tm  :  ^caltom 
I",  7«»  n..  13"»,  Und*  at 
Paphos    13«",   aod    lUi^ 

496 


mmkk  4P.  gjff  tiy  i>rrk> 
loom  ?4f".  amd  Aay- 


t4»-.  ariMd  Aw- 

daian  49*  n^  Vnmkk  4#*, 
Iwr  Imairr  ihrmni  awiy 
40^,  traU  of  «or«lih> 
41**"  n^^lrao  of  wooma  • 

AptHi«r«i  M^ 

Apii4CF* 

ApoOtt.    Fff^^«*     *•    ">* 


10P»   a^   Hya. 

ll"»    a^    and 

DrlplijrM  ISF 

^XHmm  vlttL , 

IS»».  aod  Cyttm  iL  . 
li^  n..  and  llyariotbas 
!•"•,  #sr<*.  ami  MafsyM 
19***  o^  awl  do*  and 
EphkltM  90"  n^  and 
Mot  aaP"  n^  aad  twaa 
80"*, ami  lidio* ar*.40*» 

ApoOooios  of  HMflCiii  VOL  L 

Arabia 
Axabiaa 

Af«biaaK< ,_- 

Arabiui    •hipvrigfalt   aT", 

Amcboe  18*"  iu«  40^  n. 
AndMitai  M»".  »"• 
Amioa  imitated  I"*  a. 
Arblaa9i>«' 

ARsmlla  older  Ihao  the  Mooo 
41" 


INDEX 


Areas  traveller  and  inventor 
41376  n.,  son  of  Zeus  and 
Callisto  13295  n.  In  heaven 
as     Bootes     IS^^',     42290^ 

47252 

Arctos  S^^S  280  n. 

Arcturos  4229i 

Areizanteia,  where  trees  grow 
honey  26^83 

Ares  221',  ^^  passim 

Arestor  35"9 

Arethusa  6^^^  n.  See  Alpheios 

Argasides  32^^' 

Argennos  14'^ 

Arges  14^° 

Argilipos  138',  28"* 

Argo  the  ship,  47^55 

Argonautica,  vol.  i.  p.  x 

Argos,  a  Pan  14^^ 

Argos,  the  place  S^^^  etc. 

Argos  the  watcher  l^*^  g^c, 
his  eyes  12'°  n. 

Ariadne  8^^  n.,  et  saepe.  See 
Perseus 

Arienes  26i«5 

Arima  cave  P*",  ^21,  3418* 

Aristaios,  son  of  Apollo  and 
Cyrene,  Agreus  and 
Nomios  5215  ff.,  3221  n., 
I3280  n.,  16"%  17357,  192" 
n. 

Arne  13^9 

Arrabie,  saepe.  See  also  Arab 

Arsanie  26"» 

Artemis,  passim :  and 
Actaion  5^05,  her  team 
IP**,  pitted  against  Hera 
361°,  28,  and  Aura  48^51  ff., 
assaulters  of  Artemis  and 
Leto  48*13  n.,  Zeus  takes 
her  form  2^22 

Ascania  14285   2" 


Ascra  13'^ 
Asopis,  nymph  IS^^^ 
Asopos  7212,  13220^  burnt  up 
23289  27275 

Aspetos  26»« 
Aspledon  13^* 
Asses'  Manger  1*^^ 
Assyria,     Assyrian,     saepe : 

Assyrian    Cythereia    3"^, 

Adonis  31^27  n.,  Lebanon 

32»,  Art  40302 
Astacia  IG^^®,  *»5 
Astacis  lake  1432',  cf.  16*« 
Asterie  2^25  n.,  23236  n.,  3333' 

n.,  42*"  n. 
Asterios  I3223,  35385^  3747^  726^ 

40285,  founds  a  colony,  cf. 

132*8 
Asteropaios  22383 
Astraeis  14305  if.,  1798^  26220 
Astraia  6"2,  41214 
Astraios,  a  satyr  14^',  17"", 


VOL.  Ill 


Astraios,  spirit  of  prophecy, 

a  Titan  25'2  n.,  6"  if.,  his 

sons  37'5  n. 
Astris,  a  name  invented  by 

Nonnos     I7282    n.,    26353, 

27199  33151 
Astrochiton  40369  ff. 
Astrological  and  astronomi- 
cal knowledge,  vol.  i.   p. 

xvi,  Books  I  and  VI  Add. 

Notes  vol.  i.  pp.  42,  240, 

2"3  n.,  et  al. 
Astynomeia  4l29i 
Atalanta  1289  ^^^  48I82  „, 
Ate  lli"n. 
Athamas  and  his  marriages 

5557  n.,  9304  n.,  10*  ff. 
Athena,  passim :   and  Teire- 

sias  533'  n.,  7251  n.,  invents 

2k  m 


INDEX 


pipc»  94**  n..  mnd  Cjrp^ 
lit  loom  94^.  mrKs 
Krrrhthru*  ilH»,  4«^.  Iwr 
bin!  a»"  n..  hrr  trrr  !«•". 

4d^,  Ubyn,  Trttoiiii  Bl^ 
D^  I9P**  n^  klfntlflnl  wlUl 
•oinr  AfttoHe 
dcM  S"*  lU, 
Rphfaillcs  af" 
by  Zcwi  lo 
4^».  ftppr*!  to  hrr  ft**  f . 
Atbcnr,  Athmai,  Athtm 
IS»«.  "•«««. 

AUmk  «*.  a^,  4#" 
AtlM   ««.   a^.   4**.  fiilhrf 
of  Rlcctni  I3*».  Uthrr  «^ 

AtrapUoi  19^ 

AtrofMM  li»«« 

AtymnkM  1 1*»  n^  19^.  tSlk 

f.f  ItwihcH  ||*» 
Au|rr%  MH\  M  Hrttm  I4«« 
AiunutuA  4I"* 
Aulb  IS»^.  »»* 
Aum  43-».  48^  ff. 
Au!«chbal  l^T** 
Ausonlan  racr,  the  Roomum 

S»".  4l»«,  •• 
AntttkNi^ua 

Babylon  40«.  •• 

BmaJo  la^ 

BonrAM  of  EuHpidcs,  toL  L 

p.xiii 
BMcboi.  BMChai,  pMVtM 

Dionyioa,  LyakMu 
:  Birth  8^,  nrvrd 
into  Zcos*s  thiffh  1H, 
Hermes  cmrrirs  nim  to 
Lamos's  dau^tm  9*.  to 

498 


Iw    9».    IB 

Mjntii  f~,  wl 

Mm    rtt»   •»<. 

takn  Mm  lo  CybrAr  9^. 

ffwn  «ifi  to"*.  Mi  te  bf* 

with  Amprloi  10^,  fMMi 

l<F»f^iyl      III    II**. 

Ibr  IMIIf^.  flMltai  viM 

ladki  &•  bb  anny  19». 
bii  bPiuitil  allir.  14*'. 
Ibry  mi  out  14*^.  tbrir 
&nm  mnA  frat*  14*".  be 
ptmT%  m  tor  ialo  thr  aralm 
U"».  rr^ulU  ly.  "•.  bik 
In  lorr  «ilh  SIrala  l#  C 
•  ao«m  bridal  li^.  At 
bran     Tekte     l«^.     be 


MMlT^.britfm 

Ibt     vinr      17". 

eovotrr*  with  mm 

dorl   with    fWrrbot    IT«<*. 

ChnntrA     lrap«     brto    tbr 

rhrvr  I7«".  thr  batlla  «« 


oo  I7«^.  Blrfny«  ubwlli 
11^.  Slupbylm  and 
Bolryt  u^Mtilii    iUorho* 


bo 
of 


bmU 

i»".   I-y- 

avay  the 
nonrs  of  Bacrho>  and  be 
mm  avay  Into  the  tm 
90"*.  LyrurfiM  h  ca«irht 
bi  the  TbM*  91".  aifrm  and 
horrors  91".  Boecbos  tai 
the   deep   9I*« 


INDEX 


mocks  the  herald  2pi8, 
Bacchos  moves  to  resist 
him  21303,  an  ambush 
21328,  miracles  of  Bacchos 
22^,  the  ambush  revealed 
229",  the  fight  221^9,  battle 
in  the  river  23",  Hydas- 
pes  resists  2S^^\  Bacchos 
burns  the  water  2S^^^,  and 
relents  24^^^  Bacchos  com- 
pared with  other  heroes 
2526,  hig  sjiiei(j  25384,  Yf^^i- 
ades  summons  his  troops 
26*3,  the  hosts  mustered 
27"S  the  immortals  2733i, 
the  fight  28',  Bacchos  and 
Hymenaios  29^^,  Bacchos 
retires  302*',  ^^  f^^^ts 
again  SO^^^,  he  goes  mad 
32^25^  panic  in  his  army 
32^*°,  Deriades  massacres 
the  Bacchants  and  Bass- 
arids  35^,  others  walk  out 
352*2,  Bacchos  is  healed 
35336,  attacks  Deriades 
36^^^,  a  truce  for  burial 
games  37',  omens  38^^, 
seafight  39,  Bacchos 
throws  Deriades  into  the 
Hydaspes,  and  the  war 
is  won  40^6^  he  returns 
with  the  spoil  40^'^,  visits 
Tyre  402^8,  his  hymn  to 
Starclad  Heracles  4036^ 
unsuccessful  rivalry  with 
Earthshaker  for  Beroe  42, 
their  conflict  433*,  Zeus 
pacifies  the  quarrel  433'2, 
Bacchos  and  Pentheus  at 
Thebes  44,  45,  adventure 
with  pirates  45^^,  the  end 
of     Pentheus     45219,    46, 


Bacchos  and  Icarios  473*, 
finds  Adriadne  in  Naxos 
47^65,  Bacchos  and  Perseus 
in  Argos  47*®®,  Bacchos 
and  the  giants  483^, 
Bacchos  and  Pallene  48*", 
Bacchos  and  Aura  48^38, 
he  ascends  into  heaven 
48"* 

Bacchylides  quoted  38^*  n. 

Bactrion  621,  21 250 

Bactros  238",  253'*,  ggsw 

Baidion  26*® 

Bakarawia  173*6  n. 

Beckoning,  Eastern  mode  4' 
n. 

Bee  squashed  by  Heracles 
432*9  n. 

Bellerophontes  11^*6,  38*"% 
thrown  by  Pegasos  28^67 

BeloS  3295,   18224,  40392 

Bentley's  Phalaris  472*  n. 
Berecyntian  pipes  13^"8,20305, 

40227,  441*" 

Beroe,  city  of  Berytus  4p3 
n.,  Law  School  411^^  n., 
41398  n.,  vol.  i.  p.  xvii 

Beroe,  daughter  of  Cythereia 

41117     143     155    jj       41168     331 

Amymone  41i^3,  her  story 

42,  433'3 
Berytos  4136',  396^  43130 
Bilithos  32222 
Billaios  262i' 
Bistonia,  Bistonian  32*3,  S^\ 

13340    ig70    22170 
Black  victims  296'  j^^ 
Blemys,  Blemyes  17385,  394  „., 

263*1 
Boeotian    pig    13^26    n.,   cf. 

3ot,a>Tios    lyyc/ioveu?,    Xan- 

thos  of  the  story  273"3  n. 


INDEX 


Roti7il»**( 
BrahfiMiift 


BrattftNi  IS*^ 
Bfiirw  !IP«**.^y* 
HHtonuurtb  sa^  n^ 
KronibkM  19^* 
llfftNnlefl** 


BfoolkNi  IS*"* 
Bffmw  ttnd  liBd  9Mi  A. 
BrruM  U*" 
BoeoUan  ISf^ 
Buddaia^ 
Bull-eyed    and 

Hrmf*  n. 
Brhim,  BybliM  a^, 

.si»«    41*^.  la^.    is«f 

MilHm 
BysM  !^, »»"  n. 

CabHro  !♦«.  f7««,  —,  »«, 

CabcinM,  CmheinA  !!*•,  >m,  44 
lu,  ♦«.  94^.  Mm  of 
Hrphaktos  «T»«.  ■",  aOf". 
i3*».  confused  with  Cory- 
bants  3"  n. 

Cadmeian  1^  dc 

Cadmilos  «••  n. 

Cadmos  pcdiirree  !•••  n.- 
Cadmilos  *••  n^  and  Tjr- 
phorus  l»«»ff.,  and  DIroe 
4*^  n..  and  .\i«a  ««»  n^ 
5*,  and  Harmooia  S"  ff^ 
and  Penthcus  44*«  ff..  feaU 

500 


ZmIP*, 


Ca^dnoi 

Canan  pmplr  12ff^^ 

C*armrlo»  iHi"* 


CwwteB  Apollo  l«M 

Caffposll*^n.cle. 
Carydoaia^ 


Caafiian  Sm  0^.  40^  n. 
CaMirprli  95***.  4I"*  a.  ale. 
Caatello  V**.  la^ 


C— noaiaM>.«>.  SifMilrtqa 

Cecropai  CcotmIb*  GobmiiI* 

doalS>«.lKif~«lfi. 

of  ArWakM 


4~n. 


Ccian 


INDEX 


Celainas  13"« 
Celaineus  14^^°  etc. 
Celaino  S^" 
Celeos  13185,  47«  „,  etc. 

Celt   2S^\    299^    27201^    3393^    98^ 

39S  43292,  46«2 
Celtic  river,  see  Rhine 
Centaurs,     origin     5*^^     n., 

sorts  of  14^*3  n.  etc. 
Cephalos  4i9*  n.,  ll^so,  27*, 

422*',  4g680 

Cephenes  2^®' 

Cepheus  2^^\  «"  n.,  3027* 

Cephisos  41^\  '» 

Cerassai  city  13*'» 

Cerinthos  IS^^o 

Cerne  island   16«  n.,  33i83, 

36«,  38287 
Ceroessa  32'" 
Cestus  720*  n.,  S^^^  n. 
Ceteus  I4188 
Ceto  26355 
Cetos  8i°»,  25128  ff, 
Chaironeia  4^** 
Chalcis  13i«« 
Chalcomede,     Chalcomedeia 

33i«9  if.,  3411,  154  ff. 
Chalk,  mystic  4773*  „. 
Chaonian  dove  32**  n. 
Chaos  7111 
Chariclo  7^^^  4482 
Charis,    Charites     1*7"    etc., 

3311  n.,  daughters  of  Dio- 

nysos  at  Orchomenos  13^* 

n.     See  Hephaistos 
Charon's  winds  197 
Charope,  Charopeia  36256,  274 
Cheesebaskets  1757  u. 
Cheirobie  30286  etc. 
Cheiron  145»,  S5^\  48*i 
Chelai,  Cancer  3827*,  397 
Choaspes  23277,  24,29 


Chremetes,  the  Senegal  1338o 

n. 
Chronos,     Time    2*22,    3197^ 

J  215     96 

Chrysopator  47*7i 

Chthonios  482i 

Cicada-brooch  132"<'  n. 

Cilician  1^55  etc. 

Cillyrioi  133"  n. 

Cimmerioi  4526" 

Cimpsos  13«5 

Cinyps  13"*  n. 

Cinyras  13*52 

Cinyreia  13*5i 

Circe  1333",  2277,  mother  of 

Phaunos  37^3  n.,  375^,  i6« 
n.,  37"8 
Circles,  heavenly  38258  n. 
Cirrhaian  serpent  4^18  n. 
Cisamos  132^7 
Cisseus  Dionysos  812  n. 
Cissos  10*01  ff^ 
Cithairon  5*1  etc. 
Cithara  8^88  n. 
Cleite  2177 
Cleochos  40227 
Cleonai  1752 
Cleopatra  2689,  41393  n. 
Clymene,  wife  of  Helios  73°* 

n.,  8^*7  n.,  17880  n.  etc. 
Clytios  28««  ff. 
Cnossos  13232  etc. 
Cocytos  1730* 
Codone  35376  etc. 
Coilon  32235 
Colchian  lO^^,  1388  etc. 
Colias  41i"8  n. 
Colletes  362*1 
Comaitho  2i*3  n.,  40i*i  n. 
Comarcos  32i89 
Combe  131*8  n.,  a  new  story. 

See  Socos 

501 


INDEl 


Como»r**.    SmHrmh 

CyoMM  l"«. »» 

CoavirlUtiom  alJ  aiMct  H^ 

CydMi  fiM.  94^.  40MI  •. 

Copai  13^ 

Corintli  «^.  S7»*«.  4I*»,  •», 

Ctm  Si"* 

431M 

CyOiytt-.M-  ^^ 

CoftMidft4^ 

Cofftmk.  mollMr  of  tlie  IIhw 

4i^ 

Graa9i4«^ 

Cynihtti  f<i»*  «. 

CoroonlS^B. 

cyajHTi*^ 

CorybMiltt.  prkate  df  RlHte 

Cbryckui  oive  9^  M. 

^^ISSpdHetl^V  '    '^ 

CoryiiibMM9f^f^9i» 

cymifS^ 

Corynbot  laMt  B. 
Cottalmaa^ii. 

QrfbMl4^ 
CymtlF»cie^liP*a. 

CotyUkA  fort  la*" 

(^lyoiMiii 

CraiMM  ^wit  ImUmI  40^  ■• 

C]FtlMmfr^.4l"*.4«w 

Cf«pMeUI9«« 

CytlwwMi  AphfnilMf  ,f  wifa 

CrmUifroiKM  13^ 

CrHc.  1  rrUn  •»«.  13^  cle.. 

DMtyM    9"*.    I4^«    cidM 

(  rrtMi  liar»  S***  n. 

_CotybMi»t'^«^ 

(>iAM»  Hi»« 

1  ris*  I3»" 

Crocw  !«•  0^  la^  A.     8m 

of   SedB^    fl9».    W. 

MiUu 

ST« 

Cn.nidra,  Citwioa.  CnMilot. 

Dunc«sl3M«.«F' 

ptiMsim 

DMnilOM*  l«»,41««c«e. 

Crono»,  the  Tttan  !"•,  If*, 

DMMi«r>i 

1^  n^  I»-».  «l~   W^. 

Dmmos    3F».    ■•.    4^    «. 

40-.     41-      the     pkaH 

Ctu-biliHM).4l«* 

Saturn  6>**,  38"» 
Crown,  northern  «••  n. 

S^UeW  •.  <«e. 

Currtta    I3»«      14^.    »«, 

Dtmbne  rmlr  40»* 

36«».     5««l>Mtylol 

Daphnk  15*"  n. 

Cyuie6>»a. 

DuboiDeiM  1^ 

Cybele  »«*,  I7«  etc 

DwdidM"*. 

Cfdopt,  Cydopcs  «8»"  ff^ 
S9«^^-ete7nii«I4^ 

DMtUaia  3^.  «8^ 
Duytti»30>» 

MNi 


INDEX 


Daulantios  44^ 

Deianeira  3589  „.,  43*^     See 

Acheloos 
Deimos   2"^   25i56,  39^"  n. 

etc. 
Delos  272'«,  36124 
Delphic  Pytho  etc.  g^^^,  5^, 

9251     274     13122     2^262     3g85 

Delphyne  IS^*  ' 

Demeter,  Deo  l^"*  etc., 
Egyptian  3^*^,  she  visits 
Astraios  6^^  if.,  Deo  and 
Pelops  18^',  and  Celeos 
1983  ff. 

Denthis  32222 

Derbices  26^39 

Deriades  13«,  U^'^,  17"9,  20, 
21,  23-30.  32-36,  38-40 

Dersaioi  26^*9 

Deucalion  3^",  6^"  n.,  12«2, 
15299  n. 

Dia  7125,  162*0  n. 

Diamond,  as  protection  47^93 
n. 

Dice,  Justice  3^96,  411*^  etc. 

Dicte  1322,  13245^  2g276  etc. 

Didnasos  26'9 

Dindymos  153'9,  482*1,  855 

Diomedes  15^^* 

Dion,  law  of  I31" 

Dione  5«i^ 

Dionysos,  see  Bacchos. 
Originally  Asiatic  deity, 
vol.  i.  p.  xii,  Alexicacos 
7^'^  n.,  Dionysos  and 
Perseus,  vol.  i.  p.  xv,  and 
Alexander,  vol.  i.  p.  xiv, 
birthplace  12*  n. 

Dirce  4356,"  398^  54^  §239^  13520^ 

26'°,  27273,  4410^  4625^  142 

Discoverers,  list  of  403i"  n., 
413'3  n. 


Doias  i3"8 

Dolphin,      heavenly      232", 

38371,  43191 
Dorian  tune  2521 
Doris  1«*  n.,  629',  igi",  14117, 

39255,  4399,  167 

Doros  14115 

Doryclos  292«3 

Double  meaning  423i2  n. 

Doves  of  Dodona  3293  n. 

Dracanos  91^ 

Dragon,  heavenly  1252  etc. 

Dresia  135i* 

Drosera  40365  ^^ 

Dryads  3'",  462^5 

Dryas,    father    of   Lycurgos 

21159 
Dryopes  3192,  3591 
Duel  of  Xanthos  and  Melan- 

thios  27303  n. 
Dysis  4128*,  sunset  47«24 
Dyssaioi  269o 

Eares  clan  26i«« 
Earsleepers,     the     269*,     99^ 

30315 
Earthquakes,  cause  of  219' 

n. 
Earthshaker's     contest     for 

Argos  3952  n. 
Echelaos  33i99 
Echidna  182^* 
Echion  the  earthborn  5201  n., 

5553,  8382,  44170^  4g51,  241 

Echo  2119  n.  etc. 

Ectenes  53' 

Eerie  26i38,  301^3,  is* 

Egretios  30306  ff. 

Egypt,  bride  of  Nile  6355  j,^ 

Eido  43269 

Eidothea  P',  43i»2 

Eileithyia  2236,   gus   ^^  ^^^^^ 

503 


iNim 


EUdthjrtai.   danglilcn    of 

Hcni40*~B. 
EUcakm  19^ 
EirmphkUM   f".    I4»»».    "•. 

•iKTii^ii. 

Ekdn  3"*  ff..  ♦•  ITm  S**.  »"• 
Elcctrs,   wlfc   a€   ThanniM 


knci^ 


Elcoo  19* 
EMmoIs       villKNlt 

Jototo  I4»»  n. 
ECpid  Und  IS*** 
Ekailt     IS»-     t7«,    Sl« 

Eleutbo?7»« 
Ell»  !»»*«.  S0«».  STW» 
Elk>pUn»  l.S»*« 
Elymoi  13*" 
KlT»iaii  bicmIow  19*^ 
KiMthla4«** 

Emathkm   S««    f^   ♦••.   «, 
f rom  Sftmolhraor  laF* 


Enaraiio* 
EooeUdosi 


Endjakm  4***  n^  4^  it^ 

l5»»»iLrtc 
KmroiMtin  1"**  n. 
Kniprus  !»••.»••,  4^»» 
Knlspr  IS"* 

EnoplicM  Aphrodite  SI"*  a. 
Envalios  ^"  etc 
Enyo  >*»,  16**  n.  «f  pattim 
Eos,    pa««tM}     and    kMrcr* 

4»»  n..  5"«  n..  4«^  n. 
Epaphos  S»«  ff.,  3r» 
Ephialtcs  :^"  rtc     8m  Otos 
EphvreU,  Corinth  90^ 
Erechtheus  S7»**  ff.,  4I«  n. 
Erembeus  17*"  n. 
Eridaoos  «»»•,»"  n.,  Il«  n^ 

504 


Kr£f 


ll"»   B^  «a^  B^  »P»  A. 

ile. 
R(%bolM  thr  danrvr  ai>" 
BriHM  l»«.  47»  f  . 

Erte7t»7«".8M«ia^ 

Eniloiwfi4s  M^ 

Sp^mT of  Ilk  S1>^  tL, 
Brytkrolia^ 


10^,  44^,  ■» 
E«ol.lhc  RMchkrcrjrt  EhIhi, 

pm$im 
Euprtair    14"*.   Inrmtrd   bb 

nunc  for  B«ccha%  #»"*  n. 
Eaphortoo  QMtad  IS*^  a. 
EttJgjhgitBi  ^***  ^"^^  ^^^'^ 
4iu* 


B^  4C  n^  Tol.  L  p. 

Ewopa  !»••  8^  de^  the 
ooatiiie«ll9«.48>» 

EorolM  19*" 

Euryale,  m  Gorgon  iSP*  a. 
etc 

EuryakM  14" 


INDEX 


Eurymedon,  see  Alcon 
Eurynome  2"',  S^^i  n.,  12*^ 

n.,  41312 
Eurypyle  SO^aa 

Fan  and  sunshade  212"  ^ 
Fates,  three  12"i  n. 
Faunus  IS^as  n.    See  Phaunos 
Fennel  T^"  n. 
Finger-counting  4^'*  n.,  6^' 

n.,  413'9  n. 
Finger-game,  mora  33®"  n. 
Firesticks  and  firestones  2*^^ 

n.,  37"  n. 
Fountains,  list  of  403«3  n. 

Gaia  1*"  etc.  See  Earth, 
Giants,     dpovpa  25®^  etc. 

Galateia  1^8,  6^^\  ^is^  gsi^ 
14«5,  34*°,  392",  40^55^ 
43104 

Gamos  40'»2 
Ganges  212"  etc. 
Ganymedes  8^*,  152'»  n.  etc. 
Gas  inspiring  at  Delphi  92'"  n. 
Gates  of  Thebes  5^*  n. 
Gazos  26^* 
Gemon  U^"® 

Geography  26  notes  passim 
Geraistos  13i«2 
Geryones  2523« 
Geudis  ll^',  17^5,  43*^' 
Giants  l"\  4*^8,  17",  I8221, 

20",  25»2^  31173  (Indians), 

40**«  etc. 
Gigarto  21",  30223,  3315^  52 
Ginglon  26^^^ 
Glaucos,    Lycian     IS^^^    n., 

22147 

Glaucos,  merman  1^  n., 
10105^  1375^  3999^  43115  etc, 

Glaucos,  Pan  1482 


Glaucos,  son  of  Aretos  262^' 
Glaucos,    son     of    Sisyphos 

lli«n. 
Gleneus  H^*' 
Gorge  358*  n. 
Gorgo     8i°i     etc.,     Gorgon 

sisters  24^'  etc.,  the  image 

13^1'  n. 
Gortys  1323* 
Goryandis  2629* 
Graia  13" 
Graiai,  island  of,  where  men 

suckle  babes  26^2  n. 
Greek  notes  : 

aepaiTTOT-qTos  2*^3  jj, 

a.ijL<f>la^aiva  5^*®  n. 

elhwXov  1256  n. 

eiXiTToBrjS  1^°  n. 

iX€VT]LS  21*^  n. 

ripcyeveia  4"2  n.,  31i«,  38"1 
n. 

ricos  18^59  n. 

Karpevs  26212  n. 

K€Ka(f>r]a)S  2^''  n. 

XvKa^as  11*8^  n. 

fieXLKprjTov  192^2  j^ 

fjLopia  37313  n, 

fivpaiva  1283  n. 

vvaaa  1*^*  n. 

OTTT-qpLOV  5I39   n. 

ov8kv     Ttpos     Tov     Aiovvaov 

19i'o  n. 
rroXvKdpr]vos  40233  ^^ 
TTop.mXos  39327  n. 
aTlX^OiV  413"  ^ 

<f)€p€ot,Kos  33^5  n. 

XdXKeOS  VTTVOS  1629'  f,^ 


copicov 


262 


Habrathoos  26^^^ 
Hades   11*>*,    122",   his  cap 
2555  etc. 

505 


Ilftdryad.  panim  t  9**  a. 
HaioMW,  \\\mtAmy%  40" 
Hair  dcdkalcd  47«>*  n. 
lUUiutoft  4^.  IS^ 
lUlimcdcs  li"*  etc. 
Hamadiyad.  vamim  i  ^ 
Hanna  19*  lu.  99^  of  the 


hMvenly  chariol 

llamioiiia*  Mv  Cadoiat  I  httf 
woolfiff  and  wddlas  9^  C* 
5*».  hrr  daii|rlitcr»  5>»  f  ^ 
hrr  nrrklacr  A**  a^  her 
fair  ♦•»  n..  U»"  n. 

Hannonia  Allm<4hrr  at  Immh 
in  thr  hcaTm%  W^  ff^  her 
tablets  1«»  and  Nola,  voL 
I.P.4M 

Harpahrcv  I  »»•  b. 

liarpe  14"* 

lUrpy  S7"» 

Hrhe  19-n. 

HrrafrKT  4«"*  a. 

Ilecatr  S«   »«•.  U»» 

ilcrtoriS^ 

lleliadca  9»«.  He.  &• 
Phallhoo  and  E««daMa 

Helkaoo  4S»' 

Ilclicc  IT"'.  iS^ 

HdkxMi  5«,  T»».  IS« 

Hrli<M,  the  Sun,  abo  called 
I'hafthon  and  ApoUo 
ptutim  !   as  spy  90***  n. 

Hellas  l*«  etc 

Helle  3".  9»*  n^  10^,  «4««. 
iS##  Ino 

Hcllm  I4»* 

Hrmodosi,  Himalaya  40***  n. 

Heosphoros  *»••  etc 

HephJalstos :  builds  palace 
3^**.  makes  necklace  ftir 
bride  on  &eeiAg  his  eon 
Eros    5"*,    at     birth    of 

506 


Athcm  9H.  hk 


li». 


\mm.  angry   aad  JmIhi^ 

Affoi  a^,  4»-.  •-.  •-•. 
MdDieril  •>"  f ^  awl 
baby  Batthoa  r*  C,  and 
lao  t«*,  aad  Ceataam 
I4»««.  icarai  Bacchos  «a^. 
decks  henelf  99*.  lakes 
the  ladlaa  side  ST*  dc. 
■bae  Ike  beeail  44^. 
iakea  part  wllk  Bnaeas 
AV^,  rtlll  mMitf^l  40*. 
She  tbuadrr*  iM^  n^  Hera 
and  marriafr  »•■•  a.«  9I"* 
n..  hrr  o4ntawl  7**  a^ 
*H^^i4#ai^a. 
Icradesi  wrertln  with  Zcas 
10^,  ram  after  Hylas 
ll»',wjllhytkeltonl7>*. 

4S»«.  at  l^rrna  95***.  slays 
the  deer  IS-*  n.,  at  Styn»- 
«^  a^  If 


Heracka 
Hera*sl 
with     N« 
sqaaabca  a  bee  49^  n. 
HcriaeB,   Hermeias    S***,   at 
Cadn>m'»  TiMt  3">,  gift  at 
veddiiur  5^  has  no  oon- 
sort  4^  » ivoei?as 


INDEX 


from  Zeus  9^'  fF.,  of  the 
Ring  10337,  his  sons  148% 
father  of  Pan  24*7,  law- 
giver 33^*2^  set  against  Leto 
36",  holding  the  Latin 
tablet  411",  j^w  41335,  j^. 
vents  harp  413'3,  musters 
ghosts  etc.  44207 

Hermos  11*»  etc. 

Hesiod  alluded  to  13'«  n., 
209*  n. 

Hesperos  2^85  g^.^,^ 

Himaleon  3223* 

Himeros  I'S  8*"*,  343*,  35135 

Hippalmos  26^*' 

Hipparis  133i' 

Hippocrene  7^35  n. 

Hippodameia     IP's,     20^^\ 

33294     4g214 

Hippolyta's  belt  252»i 
Hippomene  48^82 
Hippuros  26^8 
Holcasos  26181 

Homer  imitated,  possiwi:  see 
notes  on  l^"^,  237«,  3135, 5475^ 

73I6,  8123,  101»2,  1353^  lg67^ 
QgllS     183     2333     2432*     25338 

26",  283*,  36i,'40i»»,  158,  ^^\ 
42181,  44115^  Homer  men- 
tioned     137,     258^     265^     269^ 

3218*,  42181 
Hora  1272  g|-(..     See  hours 
Horned  Cyprus  3«i*,   ^1^  n., 

13**1,  29372 
Horned  female  deer  483i2  n. 
Hours   of  the   day    12i'   n., 

38290  n_ 
Hunter  Apollo  528^  n. 
Hyacinthos  31^9  n.,  10255  n., 

Hyacinthian  Apollo  1  l33o 
Hyacinthos  plant  28"  n. 
Hyades  !"«,  141*',  21295  ^^ 


Hyagnis  10233,  413'* 
Hyampolis  13i2«  n. 
Hybla  I3318 
Hydarcan  people  262i8 
Hydaspes  1723*  n.,  21  fF. 
Hydriads  16357  gj-^.^ 
Hylaios  17200 
Hylas  11228  n. 
Hyle  13«8 

Hymen  Hymenaios  1629", 
24271 

Hymenaios  2488  n.,  292*  fF. 

Hymettos  13i83 

Hymn  to  the  Sun  40,  Add. 

Note  vol.  iii.  p.  194 
Hymnos  I5206  ff. 
Hyperion      123«,     «i,     23237, 

3825,  89 

Hypermnestra  33"* 
Hypnos  2237  ^1-^. 
Hypseus  29i85 
Hypsiceros  141"* 
Hypsipyleia  30205 
Hyria  139« 
Hysporos  26i^8 
Hyssacos  2423 

lacchos,  Eleusinian  god, 
often  identified  with 
Bacchos  27302  n^^  3168  ^^^ 

4888*,  965  jj^ 

laon  3223* 

lapetos  138*,  2296^  see^  31234^ 
35275,  36115 

lasion  5518,    11392^  4g678 

Iberian  239*,  432*2,  "o 
Icarios    132,    1^202    „.,   27^, 

4735  ff. 
Icmaios  Zeus  5^""^  n. 
Iconion  and  the  Image  135i' 

n. 

Ida    2^95^     356^     219^     235^     JQSIO^ 

507 


IKDRX 


ll«»,  !!7~,  and   a^^cctirc 
He. 
Idmon  3»«,  • 

lUyrta  4^.  44»,  4€«* 
Image  of  god  Umnni  awtty  la 

angw  48^ 
Imaim,  llimalajra  40^  B. 
Inarhia  !"•  etc 
lnacho»S*»  etc 
Inarime  4S^*  a. 
looanUUcNU  17"**  •• 
Iwiiaii  cuHare  IT**  n.    8m 

Brahmaaa*      Water     and 

Earth 
lodoa   larcfilcd    as   a    brto 

I8*»«  n. 
Ino  5>»  9**.  ljemeBilhm9^€^ 

10^.  •»  ff..  10^  n^  ISM*. 

»»*»,40«"iu 

Inrenloci*  bm  DUcofWWi 
lo  I**«  n..  3**»  ff^  T"*  n.  He. 

lo,  Dro,  and  M«  SI**  n. 
lobacdioa  11*  He 
lolaoa  «•*•,  «•» 
looeU*" 
Ionia  S*>*.  4aF>* 
Iphlckw  98f*** 
Iphignda  I9>**  ff^  rrplMed 

by  a  bear  I5»**  n. 
Iftmraian,  Hbmenian  5***  a. 
Imuctmh  »•*•  He  ^ 
Isihmian  Games  W*  n. 
Istros  S*.  8** 
Itylos  44***,  47** 
Itys  «»«  n.,  4"*  lu 
Ixion  16*^.  35«"  n..  hb  wife 

S5«»*n. 

Jealousy  of  the  gods  40>^>  n. 
Judges  and  umpim  in  dhrine 

506 


l***«. 


•"••-il* 


If 


I4M» 

f-,  I4»«»,  $¥».  41^ 


l^aoiprry 
l"*n. 


UpctbotlS*"*,«**«f4^ 


Utln  tahlH  4I*** 

l^mos     4»**,     1*»,     la^. 


J^.  ia**iU 

4i^C 

i^  ete.. 
villi     Hcpliaklas     «^. 
brklcrhambcr     of    Jaaon 


10***  §^  14^.  «^ 

I4»»» 

LeoQldas  bniUtod  4T**  Bb 
I.enia8*»B^tft**'f: 


IJbraa^dc 
Ulybaiaa  rocks  2*** 


INDEX 


Limnaios  Bacchos  27^°' 
Linos  41"« 

Lips   1228,  6127,    1261,  39850 

Litres  13"2  n. 

Logasides  36282 

Love  stories,  source,  vol.  i. 

p.  xi 
Loxo  5*89,  4g334  n. 
Lyaios,  see  Bacchos 
Lycabas    personified     11  "6, 

1219,  «5.     See  Greek  Notes 
Lycaios  13288 
Lycaon  182°,  22380 
Lycaste  14225 
Lycastos  I3235 
Lycon  14i»8 
Lycos  14^9,  112  etc. 
Lyctos  13232 

Lycurgos  20^"  ff.,  2P"  n.,  ff. 
Lycurgos  the  Spartan  4l33o 

Macareus  14** 

Macedon  2*oo 

Macello  IS^s  n. 

Macris  21i94,  42*"  n. 

Magnesia  10322 

Maia  3*29  gt^. 

Maiandros  113'^  etc. 

Mainalid  143*®  etc. 

Maionia  103^'  etc. 

Maira  5221  n.  etc. 

Man's  origin  from  a  tree 
12"  n. 

Mantinea  I3290 

Manyheaded  dirge  40233  n. 

Marathon  12i^2  g^c,  con- 
fused with  Salamis  292^3  n. 

Marmarion  13^^* 

Maron  II121  n.,  19  etc. 

Maronian  wine  13^  n. 

Marsyas  1*2,  IO232  n. 

Massagetes  3',  4028'  n. 


Maurusian  people  133** 
Mede  212*8,  3381^  4023 
Medeon  13«« 

Medusa  8i"i,  47^*2  flf.  etc 
Megaira  103^  etc. 
Megara  25^55 
Meilanion  303i8 
Meionian  10"*,  142«*,  25» 
Melainai  26^8 
Melampus  47^35  g*^ 
Melaneus  29"  ff. 
Melanippe    823«    n.,    Uterary 

allusion 
Melanthios  43«2 
Meleagros  138',  358'  n. 
Meles  29253 
Melia  I4212,  i623o  n. 
Melicertes  9i»8,  39102  gt^. 
Melictaine  3022^ 
Melis,  new  story  of  3332*  „. 
Melisseus    13^*5  n.,  37*^*  ff. 

etc. 
Melkart  40369  n. 
Memphis  3288,  aw,  4266 
Mene,  Moon  pi^  etc. 
Menelaos  138  n. 
Menoiceus  23'2  n. 
Meroe,  Bakarawia,  173'« 
Merope  33*2  n. 
Meropis  island  132'8  n. 
Mideia  13«» 
Milax  1286  n.,  1535* 
Miletos,  city  of  Crete   I3233 

n. 
Miletos,     son     of     Asterios 

13547   557  jj 

Milky  Way  6338,  35810  „. 
Milton,  a  possible  imitation 

4120*  n. 
Mimallon  P*  etc. 
Mimas  13^*3,  2828" 
Minos  7361,  pedigree  1322»  n., 

509 


1»»*.  aiid  Shm  85M*  a. 

etc. 
Miiror-ctrmtairrtn  6*^  A. 
MlUinu  «!••.  40« 
Mnrmosyne  81***  n^  woUwr 

of  Uie  nine  Mmm  bj  ZctM 
Modalot  »***.  40^ 
Molm«  MoinU  i"".  «•«  cl& 


INDEX 


MokNCMiT** 

Moon  ami  bolk  l»  n^  m 
lib-HnllHir  I"*  lu.  roollMr- 
km^f*  n.,  tnakn  pUnl» 


Mork*»  ilorT  t^**  n. 
MorrhoH  M"  f ^  ao»  C. 

8S,8«»aA.8t,40«le. 
Mum.  M«m  !»,  U»  ole. 

&i#  Ma«noojmo 
MiiaknlnMHlcol«M*n. 
Mjrcakia^ 
Mjotkmm  IS" 
My«»Me40^ 
MyotAo   Sl^^   clc>« 

il*" 
MTudonlalu*.  l9M»cie. 
MvHno«  a  dty  of  ~ 

Mynncx  13^ 
MjrmidoQ  13^,  87«» 
Myrrfaa  9***  n.  etc 
MjrwosM** 
MyrtUot  90>«  n^  39^  n. 

Nakd9*«etc 

Names  of  Boitnrkls,  nymplM, 

satrn  etc  U»*  n^  1 4"*  n., 

91*  n^  29»«  n. 
NnpakM  U*** 
NwcLvios  10«». !  !■".  I d«»  n^ 

510 


!#•».    I«^, 


Nrphrlr  *•••,  i^.  §■••.  10^ 

Nrfvid  l*«««c 

K«mtl**««c 

SeMinM" 

Nloyn  lA***.  I#  C  elB. 

Nkilncily  l«"* 

Nl8if«*t.iie. 

Klolie9***n.«li^n.«lB. 

Niolit  or  Affvaa.  if 

bfooTZMMar* 

KtanM'*,U^ 
NodalMiIawll^n. 


li^ 


Si 


K«^    —  -  -*  aaai 


Njw 


I3« 
OlirknflalS^ 
Ocnknia^ 


OeynoC  I4«" 

~  iaM«clc 

IS^«* 

■•n^e/.  I«*,  IS«« 
Onribal9«« 
Oli«raa  89««  n.  cte. 

«»• 

ll«    n^    !»»*•, 


».4S» 


OlnopkMi4ai<* 


INDEX 


Oistros  14"!  n. 

Oita  26295  n_ 

Old  Man  of  the  Sea  43225 

Olenian  l^^o  „. 

Olmeios  1^^^  n. 

Olympias  7^28  ^^ 

Olympos,  Olympian,  passim 

Omester  14^'' 

Onca,  title  of  Athena  5^^  ^^^ 

5'«,  443s,  45«9  n. 
Onchestos  IS^^ 
Onites  28"2 
Onthyrios  SO^^' 
Opheltes  SS^s^,  SS^s"  etc. 
Ophion    2573,    g^si,    12*^    n., 

4,  J  352     399 
Ophis  1199,  2290^  25144 

Ophiuchos  1200  etc. 
Oracle  of  Apollo  7'^  n. 
Orchomenos  139*  ^  ^^^ 
Oreiads  62^9  etc. 
Oreithyia  37i«»  n.  etc. 
Orestes  13ii»,  U^^^ 
Orion  and  the  scorpion  4^^® 

n.,  38^'*  n.  etc. 
Orithallos  362" 
Ormenios  32^86 
Orontes     17^33,     286     „.     ff., 

4,Q119  ff^   g|-(.. 

Orpheus  '  13«o,  19^",  413'5, 
vol.  i.  p.  XV,  Orphic  cos- 
mogony 25'2  n. 

Orsiboe  30285  etc. 

Orthaon  14"» 

Ortygia,  Delos  921*  n.,  47*«3 

Orycie  26^' 

Ossa  6328 

Otos  and  Ephialtes  5509  n., 
36-«  n. 

Ovid  probably  known  to 
Nonnos,  vol.  i.  pp.  xii, 
xlv 


Pachynos  2398,  13322  „. 

Pactolos  10^*5  etc. 

Paieon  29^",  35«2,  40*"' 

Palaimon  556i,  39i"5  etc. 
See  Melicertes 

Palicoi  13312  n 

Pallas,  passim 

Pallene  4333*  n.,  48«3  n.,  par- 
allel with  Atalanta  48^82  n. 

Palthanor  26«6 

Pamphylia  238 

Pan,  passim  :  and  Echo  153*'^ 
n..    Pans     I48',    2725    ff., 

46368 

Panacros  13*" 
Pandion  433o  n. 
Pandora  758  n. 
Panhellenes  4252 
Panopeia  39255,  43100,  26* 
Panopeian,  Phocian  92^2  jj^ 
Panopeus  4332,  13128 
Paphian  cauldrons  33' 
Paphos  13*56  etc. 
Parakeets  22*9  „. 
Parnassos  43^8  etc. 
Pasiphae  33i5o  etc. 
Pasithea  159i  n.,  24263,  31i3i 

ff.  etc. 
Patalene,    the    Indus    delta 

2689  n.,  27i5« 
Paul,  St.  385*  n^ 
Pegasos   7235,  11146   n.,  25*«, 

281",  3726',  38*01 
Peirithoos  162*o  n. 
Peisianassa  8i93 
Peisinoe  4'2  ff. 
Peitho,  Persuasion  38*  etc. 
Pelasgian  283*,  47479^  497^  S34^ 

4^568 

Pelasgos  47570,  '20 
Peleus  22385,  37589^  43367 
Pelion  6329,  442^  4339 

511 


INDEX 


Pdlme    »T»». 

pri«r 

:f7^.  cmrrkd  off  bjr  l*a 
doo  10*^  n. 


4r*B. 


44.  O.  4i. 


♦T^  ff^  47«-  •. 

PMcoQ  13^ 
PMittlot  I4H* 


UMdfcrtiM 
.Sun.  pa»»§m,   VhatAam  In 
litcrmture  »»«  n. 
Pbaklra40~a. 


I4«",  19^ 
Pharos  1»4S» 
Iliaab  13^,  40^ 
I'hitfylda  90»».  «|M 
PhauiMM,  13^,  «■,  37  p«#- 

•tm,     5«t  FauBus 
Phemc,   Rumovr  if*^    19^, 

«6«»,  i4»»,  4T» 
Pliencos  la^ 

51S 


I3F»«. 


11^ 


nacfmi«Mt 


PlHWciaii    3*r>».    t^. 


81^,4(1^.4^ 


Pkfygte.  PkryglMi  •«-.  I«- 

de. 
PhlfaoMi,        Emwf       md 

4,M 


INDEX 


Pilot  fish  39327  n, 

Pimpleia  13^-8 

Pindar  25^1 

Pipes  invented  1*2  n. 

Pisa  13^24^  19240^  3-j'i38   170 

Pithos  18"9  ff., '1940   QQis  flp 

30138  ,  ^  11., 

Pitys  2"8  n.,  gus^  jgsea   43259 

Planets  SS^**  n. 

Plants     with     mythological 

stories,  Add.  Note  vol.  i. 

p.  98 
Plataiai  4^36^  1370 
Platonic  thought  1025  n. 
Pleiads  V*^,  2",  3332    13414 

38380  n.,  42288 
Pluto,   mother    of   Tantalos 

1146  n.,  7119^  4g730 

Poimenios  14^°* 
Polydectes  258*,  47^54 
Polydeuces  brings  calm  28255 

n. 
Polydoros  5208,  82^8,  46259 
Polymnia  5^^* 
I'olyphemos,    the    shepherd 

and  the  smith  6303  n.,  14«2 

n.  etc.,  39266  n. 
Polyxo  21'° 
Porphyreon  93^' 
Poseidaon     1^20^    travels    in 

search    of    lo    3288,    and 

Amymone   82*^^   n.,   rivals 

Dionysos  for  Beroe  40  if., 

loves  of  42"5  ff. 
Pothos  25^^*  etc. 
Prasioi    26^^    n.,   an    Indian 

PrSs^lS^-^^  ff.,  37624  ff. 
Procne  2^3i  n.,  4^30  n.,  4426', 

48'" 
Procyon  l&-^^-  n. 
Proitos  47^'' 

VOL.  Ill 


2l 


Prometheus     230"      576      759 
33357  ♦     •    » 

Pronomos  14i^3 

Propanisos,  Hindu  Kush  265i 

n. 
Protesilaos  24^*3 
Proteus    P*,    111,    211"     239 

391«8,  42478^  4376^   160      ' 

Prothoe  I4226 

Protonoe,    Protonoeia    34i'9 

3580  etc. 
Prymneus  13^",  282^2 
Psamathe  4336o 
Psyllos,  the  Psylloi  1338i  n. 
Ptoios  9318 
Pygmaioi  1433* 
Pygmalion  3212  n. 
Pylai  26292 
Pylaieus  30i3« 
Pyloites  262i6 
Pylos  28113 
Pyramos  and  Thisbe  6355  n. 

ff.,  rivers  128i  n. 
Pyrrha  3211,  15298 
Pyrrhichos  133'  n.,  143*,  28293 
Pyrrhos   4336',   Phrygian   P. 

assaults  Rheia  1282  j^ 
Pytho  2698^  4290^  9251^  27252, 

46'^  48'°9 
Python  13^2' 

Ram  and  springtime  38269 

Revels  personified  2'"^  n. 
See  Comos 

Rhadamanes  21306,  364oi,  420^ 
36***,  398,  20 

Rhadamanthys  19i9o 

Rheia  deceives  Cronos  &^^^ 
n.,  28322,  4168^  brings  up 
Bacchos  91*8  ff.,  10293, 
gives  him  amethyst  12**", 
gathers  the  host  1335,  ^here 

513 


INDEX 


■he  bora  Zcvft    19^  u^ 


CZ^ 


^. 


Hhlne    43^, 

KhiMiaF* 

Rhiphooo*  U*« 

Rhode  14*" 

Rhodes  14^ 

RhodoeM^ 

Rhodope  SH** 

Rhyndacb  I 

Rhylkm  13^ 

Ronmn  civUbatkm.  NoaaM*t 

faith.  Tol.  t  B.  srtt 
Uon»e  il*^.  "^ 
HuAniu  imttetcd  19"**  a. 

SabriroiM^ 

St.  i*atU  98^  a. 
SaUmit  IS«* 
SaUnfol  M".  90^ 
SalmoncttA  9^1**  a. 
Semo*  aPrlc. 
Semolhrftciaii  gods  19^  a. 
Sendn  llcndc*  S4*«  a. 
SenfpiHm  W»»  a..  I9*»   •«. 

U«».  «T«,  4a».  •^,  •« 
S«oe*  18^  n. 
Snnipb  40'** 
Sanlb     IS«»,    41-     •     ••, 

4JJ^ 
Selyroe,  SiUjroi,  powiM 
Seurouuites  99^ 
Scrlmb   I4»    9I»«  a^  97>^ 

ff.  rtc. 
Schoincus9"« 
Schoinos  1S« 
Sdit05  I4»" 
Scolool9« 

514 


Sc7thiatSM».4fl^. 


•  w    •  ^    « 


.SHlraoi    10^.   Utar 

S«*rtQ»5'*.  I*«,  19^.  ir». 
4a»»».4T-* 


fatldal7«>.lMrpHM%tf-», 


•rWinriiMy 
4T^.«« 


ISM* 
19^ 

Skjiy.    SkiUaa    r*.    97«" 

l«.9*»cle. 


Stee«»orZcMl*UB. 


SipyiMli^clik 
sKl9^ 


•aonnl9^ 


W 


f  ivcu  flffvl  bjr 


So€90« 
Sololl9^ 

ijhiied  to  49»  a^ 
IT»*a. 
Sow,  kmd  hy  llcnacs  14P* 


INDEX 


Souls  turn  into  stars  47  ^^^  ^^ 

Spargeus  14^^' 

Sparta  IG^o^,  19^»\  Sl^^^, 
34120,  35"%  41330 

Spartoi,  the  Theban  aristo- 
cracy 4^*'^  n. 

Spheceia  IS"* 

Sphinx  182*^ 

Stabios  135«» 

Stamnos  IS^oo 

Staphyle  29^^^ 

Staphylos  18^  etc. 

Starclad  40^^^  n. 

Stataloi  13*^* 

Sterope  3^3'  n.  etc. 

Stesichore  U^^\  "» 

Stratia  IS^^o 

Strophios  30"8 

Strymon  43*" 

Stymphalos  IS^^s,  292*0 

Styra  13i«° 

StjTC,  water  of  O^^^,  l^^i',  14*% 

42528     44262 

Styx  in  Euboia  13i«3  n. 
Sun  and  Moon,  why  never 

together  44i^^n. 
Sydros,  the  Sutlej  32288  n. 
Syracuse  6^'\  9^\  40^60 
Syria  18^28 
Syrinx  2^^^  n. 
Syrtis  4329» 

Tainarides  30^88 

Tamasos  13**^ 

Tanagra  V^\  4>^^\  **5 

Tanais  23^^ 

Tantalos  1"' n.,  102«M825, 32, 
new  punishment  352»8, 
48'3i  n.,  son  Pelops  20^" 
n.,  daughter  Niobe   12"S 

48456 

Tarbelos  26^^^ 


Tarsos    l2«o,    2«3*,    418%    357^ 

name  18293  n. 
Tartara  31^"  etc. 
Tauros,  Mount  P**,  custom 

of  Taurian  law  13^^^  n. 
Tectaphos  26^^^  n.,  saved  by 

daughter 
Teiresias     blinded     533'     j^  ^ 

7161^  250  n.,  20*«",  built  an 

altar  45^2,  4>6^o 
Telamon  13*^2,  37589 
Telchines    8"8    n.,    1436    ^^ 

27106^  30226,  37293^  449 

Telebes  32^" 
Telete  16*oo,  48«8o 
Tembros  13"^ 
Temeneia  13^13 
Temmices  in  Boeotia  53^  n. 
Tereus  2^31  n.,  433o  n. 
Terpsichore  133",  39238 
Tethys  8""  n.,  SS^^",  40^52, 

41150  etc. 
Teucrian  Ida  3^%  103io 
Teucros  13*«i  n.,  28«i 
Teumerios  13398  j^^ 
Text,  suggestions  on:     II82, 

14*9,     1^344^     19129^    263«7, 

37*«9,      41204,      42288,      45287^ 

4752 

Teygete  3339,  3365 

Thargelos  3223* 

Thasos  2684 

Thaumas  26359 

Thebes  S^"  etc. 

Thebes  of  a  hundred  gates 

3299     4266     304     586     4^270 

Thelxinoe  8"5 ' 
Themis  2'i«,  41i«2  etc. 
Themisto  9312,  her  sons  9321 

n.,  103 
Theoclymenos  5^^ 
Theope  2186 

515 


INDEX 


Thmpnal  41*^  o.  rtc. 
lltennodoo       5IO»»,       Si^, 

echo  at  llmMrlo  47«*  n. 
TbMplai  4"»,  IS^ 
ThoMiy     S-*,     «FW     fte^ 

ThoMlfaui  hone  Sl^ 
Tbctte  !••  cle. 
Thiua»l4M 
ThWje  •».  I9~.    8m  Pym- 


ThoOiiM»* 
TboOMa»«*n. 
Thorkm  13^ 
Hxrmix  4***  rtc, 

Ihrinax  I4** 

'lhn>nk» 

'Ibyamb 

Thye«tcsA» 

rbymbfioft  9^  n. 

Tbjrooe    I**  dc^  Thyoncvt 

Uloayaoft  8***  n* 
Tbynikat  M*** 

TUphooe  ia».  I9~. 
Tllan*  «»»«  rtc. 
Titlionoii  I5»^  n^  4«^ 
Tityw:?-',  4»»n.,«0»»,« 
Tlrpolrinos  1 4"*  n. 
Tmolw  I0»*'  rtc 
Topu  5*^  n. 
ToivbkM  13^ 
Torooc  5ll"»  o. 

Tnu:hH»  14*  W« 
Transmiirration  of  loalt  37* 

n. 
Triptolemos  lS»*rtc. 
Tritojrrneia  13^  n^  *»»**  n. 

etc 

516 


TriloatociipbiMdl^a. 

TyfMiaH«»«» 
TjrphoiM^Tjrptw  1  p«»»*ait 

Zcm,  ToL  1.  p.svil.«Hl 

T>J,'    TyrUn     4«.     4fl^. 
ftwndliifr  of  4c>^  lu  rtc 

TWbcaImi  f>»,  pIralM  tf*« 

t  mute  «i^.  as^,  ai^.  • 

pUttlSM 
dllB  IS-»,  4I»« 


Viffoofttie  itefs  and  J 
VovdwMl 


Water  and  Rwtii  Mid  lo  Iw 

gods  of  India 
Weapona,  hyndaf 
Winds,    nm    of 

Writing  giircn  to  Greece  4^ 


Zagreos  5"*  n.^  i**  n^  i^ 
10^,«4«n^n«n^*7««' 


INDEX 


31",  36*^  882"9,  39'2,  44213, 
255,  472»,  65^  4g26^  968^  and 
Orphism,  vol.  i.  p.  xv 

Zerynthos  13*»o 

Zethos  25«" 

Zeus,  passim :  and  Antiope 
31212  n.,  and  his  lovers  7^28 


n.,  as  Artemis  2122,  332»i 
n.,  as  Satyr,  horse,  bull 
31218  n.,  333«i  n.,  Icmaios 
52'o  n.,  Zeus-limp  920  n. 

Zeus  of  the  underworld 
36"  n. 

Zoares  clan  in  India  36i^' 


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